misterioso
mis-te-RIO-so
📝 In Action
El detective investiga la desaparición misteriosa del joyero.
B1The detective is investigating the mysterious disappearance of the jeweler.
Hay algo misterioso en el bosque que nadie se atreve a explorar.
A2There is something mysterious in the forest that no one dares to explore.
Su comportamiento misterioso me hace pensar que esconde algo importante.
B2His secretive behavior makes me think that he is hiding something important.
💡 Grammar Points
Agreement is Key
Since 'misterioso' is a describing word (adjective), it must change its ending to match the thing it describes in both gender and number: 'el libro misterioso' (masculine singular), 'la carta misteriosa' (feminine singular), 'los ruidos misteriosos' (masculine plural).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the Feminine Form
Mistake: "La caja era muy misterioso."
Correction: La caja era muy misteriosa. (Since 'caja' is feminine, the adjective must end in -a.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Adding Intensity
You can make it stronger by saying 'muy misterioso' (very mysterious) or using the superlative 'misteriosísimo' (extremely mysterious), although the latter is quite formal.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: misterioso
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses the adjective 'misterioso'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'misterioso' and 'secreto'?
'Misterioso' means something is puzzling, unexplained, or hard to figure out (like a mystery novel). 'Secreto' simply means something is intentionally hidden or kept from others (like a secret code). A secret can be mysterious, but not all mysterious things are intentional secrets.
How do I change 'misterioso' to describe a group of people?
If the group is mixed gender or all male, use the plural masculine form: 'unos hombres misteriosos'. If the group is all female, use the plural feminine form: 'unas mujeres misteriosas'.