insensible
“insensible” means “insensitive” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
insensitive
Also: callous, heartless
📝 In Action
No seas tan insensible con el dolor de tu hermano.
B1Don't be so insensitive toward your brother's pain.
Parece un hombre frío e insensible, pero en realidad es tímido.
B2He seems like a cold and heartless man, but he is actually shy.
Es una respuesta muy insensible para alguien en su situación.
C1That is a very callous response for someone in their situation.
numb
Also: unconscious
📝 In Action
Tengo los dedos insensibles por el frío.
B1My fingers are numb from the cold.
Después del golpe, se quedó insensible durante unos minutos.
C1After the hit, he remained unconscious for a few minutes.
La zona está insensible debido a la anestesia.
B2The area is numb due to the anesthesia.
imperceptible
Also: gradual
📝 In Action
Hubo un cambio insensible en la temperatura del agua.
C1There was an imperceptible change in the water temperature.
La mejoría del paciente fue lenta e insensible al principio.
C2The patient's improvement was slow and imperceptible at first.
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "insensible" in Spanish:
callous→gradual→heartless→imperceptible→insensitive→numb→unconscious→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: insensible
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence describes a personality trait?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin 'insensibilis', combining 'in-' (not) and 'sensibilis' (able to feel/perceive). It has been used in Spanish since the 13th century.
First recorded: 13th Century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'insensible' mean the same thing in English and Spanish?
Mostly, yes! However, in English, 'insensible' often means unconscious, while in Spanish, the most common meaning is 'emotionally cold' or 'numb'.
Is 'insensible' a bad word?
It's not a swear word, but calling someone 'un insensible' is an insult. It means they are cold-hearted or don't care about others.
How do I say 'numb' for a body part that fell asleep?
While 'insensible' works, most native speakers say 'se me durmió el brazo' (my arm fell asleep) or 'tengo el brazo adormecido'.