Spanish word

thriller

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈtɾileɾ/

Meaning

  • masculine nounsuspense movie

Example

¿Te gusta ver un thriller?

Do you like watching a suspense movie?

Illustration for thriller (suspense movie)

More examples

¿Has visto algún thriller recientemente?

Have you watched any thrillers recently?

Core concept

Genre film built around mounting tension, risks, and a rapid push toward resolution.

Common phrases

  • película thriller

    thriller movie

  • thriller policial

    detective thriller

  • ver un thriller

    watch a thriller

Similar words

suspenso: Work that sustains prolonged anxiety and expectation through atmosphere and careful pacing.
novela policíaca: Novel centered on police investigation, following detectives and procedural leads toward a solution.
misterio: Story focused on an unexplained puzzle whose clues lead to revealing the culprit or motive.

Definition in Spanish

Género caracterizado por crear suspense y mantener al público en vilo mediante riesgos, secretos y una acción que acelera la atención hacia la resolución.

Word origin

It is a loanword from English thriller, ultimately from thrill meaning a strong involuntary excitement, and becomes part of Spanish vocabulary during the 20th-century rise of the genre.

Usage tips

  • As an English-derived term thriller often preserves English pronunciation, and película de suspense is a more descriptive alternative in formal contexts.

Other meanings

  • thrillernoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word