Spanish word

pesadilla

Pronunciation

IPA/pesaˈðiʝa/

Meaning

  • feminine nounnightmare

Example

Anoche tuve una pesadilla.

Last night I had a nightmare.

Illustration for pesadilla (nightmare)

More examples

El examen fue una pesadilla para mí.

The exam was a nightmare for me.

Core concept

Disturbing dream that causes fear and often wakes the sleeper.

Common phrases

  • vivir una pesadilla

    experience a nightmare

  • tener pesadillas

    get nightmares

Similar words

sueño: Images, thoughts, or events experienced during sleep, ranging from vague to vivid.

Definition in Spanish

Sueño perturbador que causa miedo o angustia y con frecuencia despierta a quien lo sufre.

Word origin

Pesadilla comes from Spanish pesado 'heavy' plus the diminutive suffix -illa, originally describing a heavy, oppressive sensation during sleep that now names a nightmare.

Usage tips

  • Pesadilla is used figuratively like English 'nightmare' to describe very difficult or chaotic situations, for example 'Este proyecto es una pesadilla'.

Opposites

Word lists with this word