Definition
Appealing to or affecting the senses in a way that is pleasurable and emotional rather than intellectual.
Etymology
From Latin 'sensus' (feeling, sense) combined with the suffix '-uous'. The word was coined in the 17th century to distinguish from 'sensual' by philosopher John Milton, emphasizing aesthetic appreciation rather than physical desire.
Kelly Says
Milton invented this word to describe poetry that moves the senses beautifully—and language scholars still use his distinction today! It's why we say a painting is 'sensuous' but might use 'sensual' for something more physical.
Translations
AFAfrikaans
sensueel
sen-su-eel
BGБългарски
чуствен
chus-tven
BNবাংলা
ইন্দ্রিয়গ্রাহ্য
in-dri-ya-grah-yo
CACatalà
sensual
sen-su-al
CSČeština
smyslný
smis-lny
DADansk
sensuel
sen-su-el
DEDeutsch
sinnlich
ZIN-likh
ELΕλληνικά
αισθησιακός
es-thi-si-a-kos
ESEspañol
sensual
sen-SWAL
ETEesti
meeleline
me-e-le-li-ne
EUEuskara
sentsual
sen-tsu-al
FISuomi
aistillinen
ais-til-li-nen
FRFrançais
sensuel
san-SWEL
GLGalego
sensual
sen-su-al
HIहिन्दी
इंद्रियसुखद
in-dri-ya-sukh-d
HRHrvatski
senzualan
sen-zu-la-nan
IDBahasa Indonesia
indrawi
in-dra-wi
ITItaliano
sensuale
sen-SWA-le
KO한국어
감각적인
gam-gak-jeok-in
LTLietuvių
jausminis
yaus-mi-nis
LVLatviešu
jūtīgs
yuu-tiigs
MNМонгол
мэдрэмтгий
medremtgii
MSBahasa Melayu
berahi
be-ra-hi
MYမြန်မာ
အာရုံခံသော
a-yone-khan-thaw
NLNederlands
zinnelijk
zin-ne-lik
NONorsk
sensuell
sen-su-el
PLPolski
zmysłowy
zmis-wo-vy
PTPortuguês
sensual
sen-SWAL
RORomână
senzual
sen-zu-al
RUРусский
чувственный
chuv-stven-nyy
SKSlovenčina
zmyselný
zmis-el-ny
SLSlovenščina
čuten
chu-ten
SRСрпски
сензуалан
sen-zu-a-lan
SVSvenska
sensuell
sen-su-el
SWKiswahili
hisia
hi-si-a
TAதமிழ்
உணர்ச்சி
u-nar-chi
TEతెలుగు
ఇంద్రియ సంబంధమైన
in-dri-ya sam-ban-dha-mai-na
THไทย
เร้าอารมณ์
rao-a-rom
TRTürkçe
duyusal
du-yu-sal
UKУкраїнська
чуттєвий
chut-te-vyy
VITiếng Việt
gợi cảm
goi cam
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
While etymologically neutral (from Latin sensus), 'sensuous' became linguistically feminized by the 19th–20th centuries; used predominantly to describe women's bodies/appearance, implying passive receptivity versus active male 'sensation.'
Inclusive Usage
Use 'sensuous' for any gender or non-gendered subjects; be conscious that describing women as 'sensuous' often carries heteronormative male gaze implications.
Inclusive Alternatives
["tactile","perceptual","richly textured","engaging the senses"]