Inklingo
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A simple drawing of a face showing an expression of extreme revulsion and disgust.

asco

ahs-koh

nounmA2
disgust?A strong feeling of revulsion,revulsion?Intense physical or moral repulsion
Also:nausea?Physical sickness caused by something repulsive,loathing?Strong moral distaste

📝 In Action

El olor a pescado podrido me dio mucho asco.

A2

The smell of rotten fish gave me a lot of disgust (made me feel sick).

¡Qué asco! No puedo creer que comiste eso.

A2

How disgusting! I can't believe you ate that.

Siento asco por la crueldad animal.

B1

I feel loathing (disgust) for animal cruelty.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • repugnancia (repugnance)
  • náusea (nausea)

Antonyms

  • gusto (pleasure/taste)
  • agrado (liking/pleasantness)

Common Collocations

  • dar asco – to be disgusting; to cause disgust
  • sentir asco – to feel disgust

Idioms & Expressions

  • hacer ascos (a algo) – to turn up one's nose at something; to refuse something because one thinks it's beneath them
  • ¡Qué asco! – How gross!/That's disgusting!

💡 Grammar Points

Expressing Disgust (The 'Dar' Trick)

To say 'I am disgusted by X,' Spanish usually uses the verb 'dar' (to give) with the structure of 'Me da asco X' (X gives me disgust). It works just like 'gustar' (to like).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using 'Estar' Incorrectly

Mistake: "Estoy asco."

Correction: Me da asco. 'Asco' is a noun, not an adjective. You wouldn't say 'I am disgust.' Use 'Me da asco' (It gives me disgust) or 'Siento asco' (I feel disgust).

⭐ Usage Tips

The Fastest Way to React

If you see something gross, the simplest and most common way to react is to exclaim, '¡Qué asco!' This is a very natural and immediate reaction.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: asco

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence correctly expresses that Maria feels disgusted by the movie?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

asqueroso(disgusting/gross) - adjective
asquear(to disgust/to nauseate) - verb

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'asco' and 'horror'?

'Asco' refers specifically to physical or moral revulsion—the feeling you get from spoiled food, gore, or morally vile acts. 'Horror' is a feeling of intense fear, dread, or shock, often related to terrible or frightening events.

Can 'asco' be used figuratively?

Yes! While it often describes gross physical things, 'asco' is frequently used to express strong distaste for people, policies, or situations you find morally repulsive or unfair, like 'Me da asco la corrupción' (Corruption disgusts me).