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imposible

im-po-SEE-bleh/impoˈsible/

impossible

Also: unachievable, unworkable
A small cartoon person trying to push a huge, immovable stone block blocking a path, illustrating a task that cannot be done.

📝 In Action

Es imposible terminar todo el trabajo hoy.

A2

It's impossible to finish all the work today.

Volar sin un avión es físicamente imposible.

B1

Flying without a plane is physically impossible.

Me resulta imposible creer que no lo sabías.

B2

I find it impossible to believe that you didn't know.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • inviable (unfeasible)
  • irrealizable (unachievable)

Antonyms

  • posible (possible)
  • factible (feasible)
  • viable (viable)

Common Collocations

  • misión imposible – impossible mission
  • parece imposible – it seems impossible
  • casi imposible – almost impossible

unbearable

Also: outrageous, infuriating
AdjectiveB1informal
A colorful illustration of a massive, stalled traffic jam on a highway, with one driver looking extremely frustrated and annoyed.

📝 In Action

¡Este niño es imposible! No para quieto ni un segundo.

B1

This child is impossible! He doesn't stay still for a second.

El tráfico a esta hora es imposible, vamos a llegar tarde.

B1

The traffic at this hour is unbearable, we're going to be late.

Tratar con esa burocracia es una tarea imposible.

B2

Dealing with that bureaucracy is an impossible task.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • un niño imposible – an impossible child
  • una situación imposible – an impossible situation

the impossible

NounmB2formal
A lone figure standing on a dark mountain peak, reaching toward a bright, glowing, abstract shape floating impossibly high in the sky, representing an unattainable concept.

📝 In Action

Los grandes inventores intentan hacer lo imposible.

B2

Great inventors try to do the impossible.

Pedirle que se disculpe es pedir lo imposible.

C1

Asking him to apologize is asking for the impossible.

Word Connections

Idioms & Expressions

  • hacer lo imposible – To do one's utmost, to try everything possible.

Translate to Spanish

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: imposible

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'imposible' to mean 'unbearable' or 'very difficult to deal with'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
imposibilidad(impossibility) — Noun
posible(possible) — Adjective
posibilidad(possibility) — Noun
posibilitar(to make possible) — Verb
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Comes from the Latin word 'impossibilis'. It's formed by adding the prefix 'in-' (which means 'not') to 'possibilis' (which means 'able to be'). So, it literally means 'not able to be'.

First recorded: Around the 15th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: impossibleFrench: impossibleItalian: impossibilePortuguese: impossível

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Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between 'No es posible' and 'Es imposible'?

They mean very similar things, but 'Es imposible' is a bit stronger and more definite. 'No es posible' can sometimes mean 'it's not possible *right now*' or 'it's not allowed,' while 'Es imposible' often implies something can *never* happen. Think of 'Es imposible' as 'It's impossible' and 'No es posible' as 'It's not possible'.