Spanish word

pernicioso

Pronunciation

IPA/peɾniˈθjoso/

Meaning

  • adjectiveharmful

Example

El humo pernicioso afecta la salud.

Harmful smoke affects health.

Illustration for pernicioso (harmful)

More examples

Los hábitos perniciosos afectan la vida diaria.

Harmful habits affect daily life.

Core concept

Hidden cumulative damage.

Common phrases

  • hábitos perniciosos

    harmful habits

  • efectos perniciosos

    harmful effects

  • comportamientos perniciosos

    harmful behaviors

Similar words

nocivo: Directly harms health, causing illness or bodily injury on exposure.
perjudicial: Produces negative effects on outcomes, situations, or interests.
dañino: Physically damages bodies or things, causing injury, wear, or breakage.
tóxico: Poisons the body, causing illness or death when ingested, inhaled, or absorbed.

Definition in Spanish

Que causa daño o perjuicio, especialmente de forma lenta o acumulativa.

Word origin

Via Latin perniciosus from pernicies 'destruction' (from per- 'completely' + necis 'death'), the word preserves the idea of causing destructive, often slow or accumulating harm.

Usage tips

  • Although a direct cognate of English pernicious, it sounds relatively formal in Spanish and is frequently replaced by dañino or perjudicial in casual conversation.

Opposites

Related words

  • perniciosamenteharmfullyadverb

Word lists with this word