horrible
“horrible” means “horrible” in Spanish (describing something terrible or awful).
horrible
Also: awful, dreadful
📝 In Action
La película fue horrible, no me gustó nada.
A2The movie was horrible, I didn't like it at all.
Tuve un día horrible en el trabajo.
B1I had a horrible day at work.
El tráfico a esta hora es horrible.
A2The traffic at this time is horrible.
¡Qué olor tan horrible! ¿Qué es eso?
B1What a horrible smell! What is that?
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: horrible
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'horrible' correctly?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word `horribilis`, which means 'something that causes horror or dread'. You can see the direct connection to the English word 'horrible' and the Spanish word `horror`.
First recorded: 15th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'horrible' and 'terrible'?
They are very similar and often used interchangeably, just like in English! Both mean something is very bad. `Horrible` might carry a slightly stronger sense of disgust or dread, while `terrible` is a more general-purpose word for 'very bad'. In most daily conversations, you can use either one.
Is 'horrible' considered a rude word?
No, it's not a rude or swear word. It's a strong adjective that you can use in almost any situation, from telling a friend you had a bad day to writing a formal complaint about a bad service. It's direct, but not impolite.