brutal
/broo-TAHL/
brutal
Showing something cruel or rough, like the brutal force of nature.
brutal(adjective)
brutal
?cruel or rough
,harsh
?describing conditions or treatment
savage
?uncivilized or violent
,cruel
?mean-spirited
📝 In Action
La policía usó una fuerza brutal contra los manifestantes.
B1The police used brutal force against the protesters.
El invierno en Siberia es brutal, con temperaturas bajo cero.
B2Winter in Siberia is harsh (brutal), with temperatures below zero.
💡 Grammar Points
Adjective Placement
Like many Spanish adjectives that describe a permanent quality, 'brutal' usually goes after the noun it describes (e.g., 'un calor brutal').
⭐ Usage Tips
Formal Context
This meaning is standard across all Spanish-speaking regions and is appropriate for news reports or serious discussions.
When used colloquially, 'brutal' means awesome or fantastic!
brutal(adjective)
awesome
?fantastic or amazing
,incredible
?very impressive
extreme
?intense or huge (e.g., pain, speed)
,wicked
?slang for very good
📝 In Action
¡Ese concierto fue brutal! Tocaron mis canciones favoritas.
B2That concert was awesome! They played my favorite songs.
Tienes un coche brutal; ¿cuánto corre?
C1You have an amazing car; how fast does it go?
El dolor de cabeza que tengo es brutal.
C1The headache I have is intense (extreme).
💡 Grammar Points
Gender Invariable
'Brutal' is one of those adjectives that stays the same whether the noun is masculine or feminine: 'un coche brutal' (m.) and 'una película brutal' (f.).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'Muy' with Slang
Mistake: "Muy brutal"
Correction: Just use 'brutal' on its own. Since 'brutal' already means 'extremely good,' adding 'muy' (very) is redundant and sounds unnatural in slang contexts.
⭐ Usage Tips
Regional Use Warning
This positive, slang meaning is extremely popular in Spain, but in some parts of Latin America, it might still only be understood in its traditional, negative sense (Definition 1). Use with caution outside of casual Spanish conversations.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: brutal
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'brutal' in its modern, positive slang meaning?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
¿Brutal es masculino o femenino?
'Brutal' is an adjective that doesn't change based on gender. It works for both: 'el coche brutal' and 'la película brutal.' You only need to change it for plural: 'los coches brutales'.
If I use 'brutal' in Latin America, will people understand the positive meaning?
It depends on the region and context. While the positive meaning is spreading, many Latin American countries still primarily associate 'brutal' with its traditional, negative meaning (harsh, cruel). To be safe, use synonyms like 'genial' or 'chévere' if you want to express 'awesome' in Latin America.