fúnebre
“fúnebre” means “funeral” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
funeral
Also: funerary, mournful
📝 In Action
El coche fúnebre avanzaba lentamente por la calle.
B1The funeral car (hearse) moved slowly down the street.
La orquesta tocó una marcha fúnebre muy emotiva.
B2The orchestra played a very emotional funeral march.
Los ritos fúnebres varían mucho entre las diferentes culturas.
C1Funeral rites vary a lot between different cultures.
gloomy
Also: somber, dismal
📝 In Action
Había un silencio fúnebre en la oficina después de la noticia.
B2There was a gloomy (grave) silence in the office after the news.
El viejo caserón tenía un aspecto fúnebre bajo la lluvia.
C1The old mansion had a dismal look under the rain.
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: fúnebre
Question 1 of 3
Which of these is the correct way to say 'the funeral car'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin word 'funebris,' which comes from 'funus' (funeral/death). It has been used in Spanish since the 15th century.
First recorded: 15th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'fúnebre' the same as 'funeral'?
Not exactly. 'Funeral' is a noun (the event), while 'fúnebre' is an adjective used to describe things *related* to that event (like the car or the music).
Does 'fúnebre' have a plural form?
Yes! Just add an 's'. For example: 'los ritos fúnebres'.
Can I use 'fúnebre' to describe a person?
Only figuratively. If you say someone has an 'aspecto fúnebre', you mean they look very gloomy, somber, or are dressed in a way that suggests mourning.