fenomenal
“fenomenal” means “fantastic” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
fantastic, great
Also: phenomenal
📝 In Action
Tuvimos una cena fenomenal anoche.
A1We had a fantastic dinner last night.
Tu hermano es una persona fenomenal.
A2Your brother is a great person.
El equipo hizo un esfuerzo fenomenal para ganar.
B1The team made a phenomenal effort to win.
great, wonderfully
Also: very well
📝 In Action
Lo pasamos fenomenal en tus vacaciones.
B1We had a great time on your vacation.
Me siento fenomenal después de dormir ocho horas.
A2I feel great after sleeping eight hours.
El plan salió fenomenal.
B1The plan went wonderfully.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: fenomenal
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'fenomenal' to describe HOW someone had a good time?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Greek word 'phainomenon', meaning 'thing appearing to the view'. Originally it just meant something observable, but it evolved to describe things so amazing they stand out as rare events.
First recorded: 18th century (in its modern sense)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can 'fenomenal' be used for bad things?
Generally, no. In modern Spanish, it is almost exclusively used for very positive things. However, like in English, someone might use it sarcastically, but it's rare.
Is 'fenomenal' more formal than 'genial'?
It's slightly more neutral. 'Genial' is very common among friends, while 'fenomenal' works well in both casual chats and professional praise.