Spanish Conversation · Level 114
59 words
Spanish word
espinoso
Pronunciation
IPA/espiˈnoso/
Meaning
- adjectivetroublesome
Example
No quiero tocar ese asunto, es espinoso.
I don't want to bring up that issue; it's troublesome.
More examples
La situación se volvió espinosa tras el malentendido.
The situation became thorny after the misunderstanding.
Core concept
Thorny patch.
Common phrases
situación espinosa
thorny situation
decisión espinosa
thorny decision
Similar words
delicado: Sensitive matter that requires careful handling because it can hurt someone's feelings.
incómodo: Topic that creates awkward silence or tension when mentioned.
controvertido: Controversial issue that divides opinion and invites public debate.
Definition in Spanish
Califica algo incómodo o problemático de abordar, como un tema o una situación delicada.
Word origin
The word comes from Spanish espina 'thorn' plus the adjectival suffix -oso meaning 'full of', ultimately from Latin spina, and the literal 'thorny' meaning extends to delicate or awkward matters.
Usage tips
- Espinoso signals a socially sensitive or touchy issue rather than merely inconvenient or difficult, so speakers often use 'asunto delicado' for softer phrasing.