Inklingo
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feo

FAY-oh/ˈfe.o/

ugly

Also: unattractive
A grumpy, warty, green toad sitting alone on a large green lily pad in a pond.

📝 In Action

Ese perro es muy feo, pero tiene un corazón de oro.

A1

That dog is very ugly, but it has a heart of gold.

La casa nueva es moderna, pero la fachada es un poco fea.

A2

The new house is modern, but the facade is a little ugly.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • ser feo como un susto – to be ugly as sin (literally: ugly as a fright)

bad, nasty

Also: unpleasant
A child sitting on the ground looking sad next to a large puddle of spilled, melted ice cream, illustrating a bad situation.

📝 In Action

Tuvimos un momento feo cuando se rompió la máquina.

B1

We had a bad/unpleasant moment when the machine broke.

El jefe nos puso en un aprieto feo.

B2

The boss put us in a nasty situation.

Hizo un tiempo muy feo toda la semana.

B1

The weather was very nasty/bad all week.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • un asunto feo – a nasty business
  • mal rollo – bad vibes (informal)

Idioms & Expressions

  • Hacer un feo a alguien – To snub or slight someone; to give someone the cold shoulder.

the ugly one

NounmB2
An old, handmade doll with mismatched button eyes, ragged clothes, and visible patches, sitting alone on a wooden surface.

📝 In Action

En las películas siempre hay un bueno, un malo y el feo.

B2

In the movies there is always a good guy, a bad guy, and the ugly one.

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "feo" in Spanish:

bad→nasty→ugly→unattractive→unpleasant→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: feo

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'feo' to describe a situation rather than a physical appearance?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

The word 'feo' comes from the Latin word *foedus*, which meant 'foul,' 'disgusting,' or 'repulsive.' This root emphasizes that 'feo' is a strong descriptor of unattractiveness.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: feio

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'feo' considered rude to use?

While 'feo' is a strong word meaning 'ugly,' its directness can sometimes be seen as harsh, especially when describing people. It is generally safer to use 'no muy bonito' (not very pretty) or 'poco atractivo' (unattractive) if you want to be more polite, though 'feo' is perfectly normal for objects, weather, or situations.