Spanish Conversation · Level 67
60 words
Spanish word
hortera
Pronunciation
IPA/oɾˈteɾa/
Meaning
- adjectivetacky
Example
Esa camisa es hortera.
That shirt is tacky.
More examples
La decoración de la fiesta quedó hortera.
The party decorations turned out tacky.
Core concept
An overly ornate living room full of garish ornaments.
Common phrases
camisa hortera
tacky shirt
ropa hortera
tacky clothing
vestido hortera
tacky dress
Similar words
cursi: Seems excessively sweet or sentimental, projecting a cheap, corny kind of cuteness.
vulgar: Appears coarse and unrefined, openly crude or lacking basic elegance.
cutre: Looks shabby and cheap in a rundown, poorly made way that feels seedy.
estridente: Uses colors or patterns so loud they startle, producing a visually jarring effect.
Definition in Spanish
Indica que algo resulta vulgar y llamativo de forma poco elegante, usado sobre todo para ropa y decoración.
Word origin
The adjective derives from Spanish huerta 'orchard', originally naming market gardeners or stall sellers and later evolving to mean vulgar or cheap-looking.
Usage tips
- Commonly applied to clothing and home decor, hortera carries a rude tone so speakers often avoid directing it at a person and use de mal gusto as a gentler option.
Other meanings
- cheap-lookingadjective
- vulgaradjective
- flashyadjective
Opposites
- eleganteelegantadjective
- sobriosoberadjective
Related words
- horteradatacky thingnoun
- horteramentetackilyadverb