atroz
“atroz” means “atrocious” in Spanish (describing a cruel or wicked act).
atrocious, terrible
Also: excruciating, intense
📝 In Action
Hacía un frío atroz en la cima de la montaña.
A2It was terribly cold at the top of the mountain.
Tengo un dolor de muelas atroz desde anoche.
B1I've had an excruciating toothache since last night.
Las noticias informaron sobre un crimen atroz en la ciudad.
B2The news reported on an atrocious crime in the city.
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: atroz
Question 1 of 3
Which of these is the correct plural form of 'atroz'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin word 'atrox', which was used to describe things that were dark, fierce, or cruel.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'atroz' a very formal word?
It is neutral to slightly formal. You will see it often in news reports or literature, but people also use it in daily conversation to emphasize how bad their pain or the weather is.
Does it mean the same thing as 'terrible'?
Mostly, yes. However, 'atroz' is often stronger than 'terrible' and implies something is inhuman or unbearable.
How do I pronounce the 'z' in 'atroz'?
In Latin America, it sounds like an 's' (ah-TROHS). In most of Spain, it sounds like the 'th' in the English word 'thin' (ah-TROHTH).