Does handsome mean ugly nowadays?

[motai]

to me, handsome is like, old fashioned good looks on a guy. which goes along with what some people say about it being more rugged than say, "cute" or "sexy." because of the whole metrosexual, guys using all sorts of cosmetic products, there's a distinction between trendy guys these days, and good looking guys from more romantic eras. Handsome is more classic looking.

and i also don't mind being called handsome. ya, it means perhaps I'm not very feminine, but its still a compliment. i tend to think of handsome women as like, girls with really pretty faces, who probably are wearing pants and a blouse, and very crisp lines and sharp colors. again, sort of classic looking.

Most males tend to avoid the usage of "handsome" to refer to a female (normally used for guys anyway). Instead, if they are being polite (as in not the outright "sexy" etc), they would, as TheStatutoryApe said, either call the girl beautiful or pretty.

Now, the words handsome, beautiful, and pretty don't quite have the same..um.. oomph to the word quite as strongly as the connotation to the word "sexy" does. And it isn't as blatantly obvious too.

As a guy, I would want to be called handsome. Handsome implies masculinity. If a girl calls you cute or hot, that is good, but it still implies that you are not a man yet and still seen as immature/childish/young adult. Handsome is the best compliment you can give to a man.

Really... interesting. I always thought the references "cute" or "hot" or even "sexy" were more desirable than just "handsome" just becuase those have a stronger emotional emphasis attached to the word. Okay, perhaps not emotional per se, but that rugged lustfulness that is prevalent in human nature.

The meanings for handsome don't seem as clear as "sexy." When someone says someone is sexy, they are usually implying that, given certain circumstances, they would partake in particular actions with that individual
. On the other hand, the implications behind someone saying handsome are a little more vague.

I have another question though. What is the difference between girls saying guys are cute? I've seen two definitions, cute in an adorable way, and cute in a sexy way. From personal experience, I've only been referred to by the former. I don't understand why there would be two definitions for this particular term, wouldn't that make communications between some girls difficult? Or is it all a matter of tone? And which definition is more desirable?

 

[Gokul43201]

<runs away from GD, never to return...>

 

[Evo]

<runs away from GD, never to return...>

Don't pick on Gokul, he likes melones grandes.

 

[honestrosewater]

I have another question though. What is the difference between girls saying guys are cute? I've seen two definitions, cute in an adorable way, and cute in a sexy way. From personal experience, I've only been referred to by the former. I don't understand why there would be two definitions for this particular term, wouldn't that make communications between some girls difficult? Or is it all a matter of tone? And which definition is more desirable?

Well, I don't sit around with girls and talk about boys anymore, but I have observed others do this and faintly remember doing it in the past. The context, loudness, pitch, and duration convey more information than the actual words used. For instance, to say that someone is cute in an adorable way, they might say

Aw, he's cute

with cute being high-pitched and of normal loudness and duration. They may also add a slight whimper to the /oo/ sound. To say that someone is cute in a sexy way, they might say

Ooh, he's so cute

with so and cute being low-pitched, long, and relatively loud. They may place extra emphasis on the /y/ sound before the /oo/ sound. So may also be drawn out with heavy quivering. Cute can also mean generally attractive or acceptable. To convey this, they might say

Yeah, he's cute

with cute being medium-pitched, short and relatively quiet. The whole utternace may have a nonchalant tone and is often accompanied by a shrug.