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horroroso

oh-roh-ROH-soh/oroˈɾoso/

“horroroso” means “hideous” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

hideous, ugly

Also: unsightly
A friendly but very lumpy, green, bumpy monster with uneven eyes and crooked teeth.

📝 In Action

Ese cuadro es horroroso, no me gusta nada.

A1

That painting is hideous; I don't like it at all.

Llevaba unas gafas horrorosas que no le quedaban bien.

A2

He was wearing some hideous glasses that didn't suit him.

La decoración de la fiesta era horrorosa y muy anticuada.

B1

The party decorations were hideous and very old-fashioned.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • vestido horroroso – hideous dress
  • color horroroso – hideous color

awful, dreadful

Also: terrible
A spilled bowl of bright purple soup making a huge mess on a white floor.

📝 In Action

Hoy hace un tiempo horroroso, no para de llover.

A2

The weather is awful today; it won't stop raining.

Tengo un dolor de muelas horroroso.

B1

I have a dreadful toothache.

Fue un accidente horroroso en la autopista.

B2

It was a terrible accident on the highway.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • estupendo (stupendous/great)
  • magnífico (magnificent)

Common Collocations

  • tiempo horroroso – awful weather
  • crimen horroroso – dreadful crime
  • dolor horroroso – awful pain

Idioms & Expressions

  • ¡Qué horror! – How awful! / How terrible!

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "horroroso" in Spanish:

awful→dreadful→hideous→terrible→ugly→unsightly→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: horroroso

Question 1 of 3

Which sentence describes something that is extremely ugly physically?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
horror(horror) — Noun
horrorizar(to horrify) — Verb
horrendo(horrendous) — Adjective
horriblemente(horribly) — Adverb
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin word 'horror' (meaning a trembling or dread) combined with the suffix '-osus' (which means 'full of'). So, something horroroso is literally 'full of horror.'

First recorded: 15th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: horrorosoItalian: orroroso

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'horroroso' stronger than 'feo'?

Yes, 'horroroso' is much stronger. While 'feo' just means ugly, 'horroroso' implies that something is hideous or so bad it is shocking.

Can I use 'horroroso' to describe a person?

Yes, but be careful! If you describe someone's appearance as 'horroroso', it is very insulting. If you describe their behavior, it means their actions were dreadful or mean.

Is the 'H' pronounced in 'horroroso'?

No, in Spanish the letter 'H' is always silent. You should start the word by making the 'O' sound.