Hot, cute, handsome/pretty: how do you make the distinction?
 

What distinguishes someone hot from someone cute from someone who's handsome/pretty? What kind of person attracts you the most? What kind of person would you rather go out with?

As I see it, cute, appearance-wise, focuses on the facial features and the overall appearance. Their personality definitely affects this. For example, being clumsy or flustered while around you is uber-cute to me, or when they go out of the way to do things for you. Hot/sexy are physical features only, focusing on the body. Being smooth and suave attribute to it personality wise.
For sole appearances, cute is based on their face and their outward appearance. Hot and sexy are based mainly on their body.

Hot seems to be the people who follow the societal norms of the day of what looks sexually pleasing. Meaning, what hair, makeup, etc is in and will get you laid.

Cute usually is based on personality. But I see cute people as those who have a wonderful personality, and don't exactly follow social norms. Sometimes they rebel against it. Cute gives a non-sexual connotation, meaning that they aren't actively seeking to get laid.

Pretty/Handsome seems to be more classical in feeling. It isn't based on if you follow trends ornot, but your overall looks. People who are pretty and handsome do not need to actively seek a mate to receive one, and is naturally good-looking.


Everyone falls within one of these catargories depending on their mood and such. I think I mostly fall under cute...XD

I do think the clumsy thing is is the cutest thing ever. :) Along with being shy!

uhmm i see cute as in more innocent(face, personalities and such)...HOT is like more of a body thing, and when the guy looks older and yeah.

uhh it doesn't matter to me, as long as they have a good personality and a good heart,
plus when you like someone, you find them attractive in some way.

@Kipper;
Awww! >w<
I just wish they weren't too shy to approach me and ask me out. ; o ;
-would very quickly say yes if they asked- xD;

I think being a little dorky is really cute, too.
And jokes. I /love/ jokes. >3>;

For me, it's all about their eyes. Someone can be drop dead gorgeous, yet not have an intelligent mischievous glint in their eyes and I'm just not that interested.

Hmm, distinguishing between cute and attractive/hot/sexy. Anything can be cute if you think about it. I guess the easiest way to put it would be that cute makes you go, "Awww!", but hot makes you go, "Mmm!" (as crude as that sounds). Someone can be cute and hot at the same time for me because I tend to see cute as a reflection of personality more than hot is.

I'll just say that I value personality over looks honestly when it comes to dating. I'm very, very attracted to intelligent people. That isn't to say that I can't like how one looks, though. Physically, I tend to be attracted to thin guys. That doesn't mean I can't be attracted to those who aren't, mind you. I love green eyes, bright blue eyes, brown eyes that look like chocolate, and dark, dark eyes (basically -any- eyes). I adore fine cheekbones.

Well, everyone defines stuff like that differently, but to me:

Hot- traditionally attractive and sexy. Undeniably good-looking in a conventional way, but their face might be quite forgettable, and not stick in your mind so much.

Cute- attractive, but in a non-sexual way.

Handsome/Pretty- the best one, in my opinion. People who are attractive, but in an unusual way. They might not conform to traditional standards of beauty, but they have an individual look that is both pleasing and unusual, and their face really sticks in your mind afterwards.

That's just my interpretation, though. :)

Cute to me is mostly on their personality and face. For personality, they'd be cute to me if they were shy or something like that. :3 The face is cute if it's a little chubby, or has a round face, nose and/or eyes. I also use cute with people I am attracted to, but I can't/won't be interested in.

I usually use handsome or pretty if they're someone I find attractive, but not someone I'm interested in. Or if I don't want others to think I'm interested in them. ^^; I usually also reserve these terms for people older than me or to show respect with a higher class crowd or something.

Hot is something I over use sometimes. When I use hot I also count the body structure. If the eyes are a striking color or make the hair pop out or something, I find it hot. I also use this term with people I think who would understand my interest because to me it means "really really attractive."

Cute, hot and pretty hair is difficult for me to distinguish. I usually say "cute hair" though for some reason, but I also say emo hair is hot. I'm not sure what the difference is though there because I could also say emo hair is cute. ^^;

I like cute girls, and you are the judge of who is cute so I don't know what to say. . .

Here's how I do it:

hot = swim suit model XD nice abs, buff, someone I would never get with :P
cute = very sweet, nicely cut hair, momma's boy, can be nerdy - my type lol
handsome = for some reason I still think of a suit and tie, classic, piano playing type, lol - also my type :D

hot is sexual

cute is aww
handsome is nice but not feminiem
pretty, not quite beuatiful, but younger.

Cute and pretty are more or less interchangeable. Both suggest a general, non-specific attractiveness. If a girl is really good-looking, you'd say beautiful or gorgeous; cute or pretty just means she's a 6+ on the 10 scale but you can say it in front of your mom without her starting to plan the wedding. Cute is a little younger, less serious. It's very weird to call anyone with an advanced degree 'cute' - even if she looks like she's sixteen it's still mildly insulting.

Also, both cute and pretty can be used as pity compliments with the addition of '...' "Well, she's...pretty," means she isn't dog-ugly, but she sure as hell better have some other redeeming qualities for you to want to be with her. You don't hear, "Well, she's...hot." Maybe, "Well, she's hot, but she doesn't have two brain cells to rub together," but never, "Well, she's...hot."

Hot is about sexual attraction. Someone can have a face like Popeye and still be hot if she makes you want to throw her on a waterbed.

Breaking it down to simpleman's terms...

Cute - Associated with innocence.
Hot - Associated with sex.
Handsome - Associated with elegance.

Personally, I'd rather go for cute or handsome. Hot can be okay sometimes, but it sounds/looks rather slutty on the boys I've seen trying it. x3x

I personally have a thing for red heads. If they are my age or older they are classified as hot in my head. ;) (I mean Rorchach? *melt*)

It really depends on a lot of factors, such as their facial features, behavior, and clothing style. Pretty much the way they present themselves has a big key role, at lease from my perspective.