horrible
/oh-REE-bleh/
📝 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?
💡 Grammar Points
One Form for Masculine and Feminine
Unlike many Spanish adjectives that end in '-o' or '-a', horrible always stays the same for both masculine and feminine things. You say un día horrible (a horrible day) and una película horrible (a horrible movie).
Making it Plural
To talk about more than one thing, just add an 's' to the end. For example, días horribles (horrible days) or películas horribles (horrible movies).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting it's the Same for Masculine/Feminine
Mistake: "El día fue horriblo."
Correction: Say `El día fue horrible`. Words ending in '-ble' like `horrible`, `terrible`, or `posible` don't change their ending for masculine or feminine things.
Pronunciation of the 'h'
Mistake: "Pronouncing the 'h' at the beginning like in the English word 'horrible'."
Correction: The 'h' in Spanish is always silent. Start the word with the 'o' sound: /o-REE-bleh/.
⭐ Usage Tips
Use it to Emphasize
Horrible is a strong word, much like in English. It's stronger than just saying something is malo (bad). Use it when you want to express strong dislike or disgust.
Can Describe People
You can also use horrible to describe a person's behavior or character, meaning they are very mean or unpleasant. For example, Mi jefe fue horrible conmigo (My boss was horrible to me).
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: horrible
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'horrible' correctly?
📚 More Resources
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.