espantoso
“espantoso” means “awful” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
awful, horrible
Also: dreadful, hideous
📝 In Action
La comida en ese restaurante era espantosa.
A2The food in that restaurant was awful.
Llevaba un traje espantoso a la boda.
B1He wore a hideous suit to the wedding.
Tuvimos un tráfico espantoso al salir de la ciudad.
B1We had dreadful traffic leaving the city.
frightening, terrifying
Also: frightful
📝 In Action
Vimos una criatura espantosa en el bosque.
B1We saw a frightening creature in the forest.
La caída desde esa altura debe haber sido una experiencia espantosa.
B2The fall from that height must have been a terrifying experience.
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "espantoso" in Spanish:
awful→dreadful→frightening→frightful→hideous→horrible→terrifying→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: espantoso
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'espantoso' to mean 'extremely bad quality,' rather than 'frightening'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the verb 'espantar' (to frighten or scare away), combined with the common Spanish suffix '-oso,' which means 'full of' or 'tending toward.' So, 'espantoso' literally means 'full of fright.' The root verb 'espantar' traces back to the Vulgar Latin *expaventare*, meaning 'to drive away through fear.'
First recorded: 15th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
How is 'espantoso' different from 'terrible'?
Both words are strong negative adjectives, but 'espantoso' usually implies a greater sense of shock, disgust, or extreme badness. 'Terrible' is very common and can sometimes be used more lightly, while 'espantoso' often carries more weight, meaning 'truly awful' or 'hideous.'