fatal
/fah-TAHL/
terrible
Use 'fatal' to describe something of awful quality or experience, like this burnt toast.
fatal(adjective)
terrible
?awful quality or experience
,awful
?describing a bad situation or person
dreadful
?used for a bad performance or result
,disastrous
?describing an event or outcome
📝 In Action
La comida en ese restaurante era fatal, no pudimos terminarla.
A2The food at that restaurant was terrible; we couldn't finish it.
Mi entrevista de trabajo fue fatal. No creo que me llamen.
B1My job interview went terribly (was awful). I don't think they'll call me.
💡 Grammar Points
Always the Same Form
Unlike most Spanish adjectives, 'fatal' does not change its ending to match the noun's gender (masculine or feminine) or number (singular or plural). It always stays 'fatal'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Overusing -mente
Mistake: "Hablamos fatalmente de la película."
Correction: Hablamos fatal de la película. ('Fatal' can act as an adverb without the '-mente' ending.)
⭐ Usage Tips
A Strong Opinion
'Fatal' is a very strong word. Use it when you want to express absolute dissatisfaction, similar to saying 'It was the worst thing ever.'
When something is 'fatal,' it means it is causing death.
fatal(adjective)
fatal
?causing death
,deadly
?lethal
fateful
?related to destiny or doom
📝 In Action
El accidente de coche fue fatal para los dos conductores.
B2The car accident was fatal for both drivers.
Ese fue un encuentro fatal que cambió el curso de la historia.
C1That was a fateful encounter that changed the course of history.
⭐ Usage Tips
Formal Context
This meaning is usually reserved for serious topics like medicine, history, or literature. Avoid using it in casual conversation unless you genuinely mean 'deadly'.
The adverb 'fatal' (meaning 'terribly') describes performing an action badly, such as drawing messily.
fatal(adverb)
terribly
?performing an action badly
,awfully
?doing something poorly
very badly
?describing a negative outcome
📝 In Action
Canto fatal, pero me encanta la música.
B1I sing terribly, but I love music.
¿Cómo te fue en el viaje? — Me fue fatal.
B1How did your trip go? — It went awfully.
💡 Grammar Points
Adverb Form
When 'fatal' acts as an adverb (telling you how something is done), it keeps the same form, 'fatal,' and doesn't need the usual '-mente' ending that many Spanish adverbs use.
⭐ Usage Tips
Common Verb Combos
It is frequently paired with verbs like 'ir' (to go), 'salir' (to turn out), and 'estar' (to be) to describe the quality or success of an event or action.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: fatal
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'fatal' in its most common, informal Spanish meaning?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'fatal' change depending on if I'm talking about one thing or many things?
No. 'Fatal' is special because it is invariable. It stays 'fatal' whether you are talking about 'una película fatal' (one awful movie) or 'dos películas fatal' (two awful movies). The word itself never adds an 's'.
How do I know if 'fatal' means 'deadly' or 'terrible'?
Context is key. If you are talking about an accident, a serious illness, or a major, life-changing mistake, it means 'deadly' or 'fateful.' If you are talking about food, a movie, or a bad day, it means 'terrible' or 'awful.' The informal meaning is much more common.