Spanish Conversation · Level 135
45 words
Spanish word
espantoso
Pronunciation
IPA/espanˈtoso/
Meaning
- adjectiveterrible
Example
La comida está espantosa.
The food is terrible.
More examples
La película fue espantosa.
The movie was terrible.
Core concept
An alarming or repellent thing that provokes rejection.
Common phrases
estar espantoso
be terrible
parecer espantoso
seem terrible
muy espantoso
very terrible
Similar words
horroroso: Appalls or shocks by being overwhelmingly awful or revolting in quality.
espeluznante: Provokes a hair-raising, creepy fear that makes the skin stand on end.
atroz: Extremely grave and severe, implying harshness, cruelty, or great harm.
terrible: Very bad or unpleasant, causing inconvenience or clear displeasure.
Definition in Spanish
Indica que algo provoca una reacción fuerte de rechazo o alarma por ser muy malo.
Word origin
Built from the verb espantar plus -oso, a common Spanish suffix meaning 'full of', yielding an adjective for things that arouse alarm or strong rejection.
Usage tips
- Stronger than malo and often hyperbolic in everyday speech, with context indicating whether the speaker means actual danger or emphatic disapproval.