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peste

pess-teh/ˈpeste/

stench

Also: stink, whiff
NounfA2
A green cloud of vapor rising from a garbage can, indicating a bad smell.

📝 In Action

¡Qué peste hay en esta habitación! Abre la ventana.

A2

What a stench in this room! Open the window.

El cubo de basura echa una peste insoportable.

B1

The trash can is giving off an unbearable stink.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • hedor (stench)
  • mal olor (bad smell)

Antonyms

  • fragancia (fragrance)
  • perfume (perfume)

Common Collocations

  • echar peste – to stink
  • oler a peste – to smell like a stink

plague

Also: pestilence
NounfB1
A historical doctor wearing a long-beaked mask and a dark cloak.

📝 In Action

La peste negra acabó con millones de personas en Europa.

B1

The Black Death (plague) killed millions of people in Europe.

Hubo una peste que afectó a todo el ganado.

B2

There was a plague that affected all the livestock.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • epidemia (epidemic)
  • plaga (pest/plague)

Common Collocations

  • la peste bubónica – the bubonic plague

nasty things

Also: pest
NounfB2informal
A person whispering into another person's ear while pointing at someone in the distance.

📝 In Action

Mi ex habló pestes de mí después de romper.

B2

My ex said nasty things about me after breaking up.

Este niño es una peste, no para de gritar.

B1

This kid is a real pest; he won't stop screaming.

Word Connections

Idioms & Expressions

  • hablar pestes de alguien – to badmouth someone or say terrible things about them

Translate to Spanish

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: peste

Question 1 of 2

What does the phrase 'hablar pestes' mean?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
apestar(to stink) — Verb
apestoso(stinky) — Adjective
🎵 Rhymes▼
estecelesteoeste
📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin word 'pestis,' which was used to describe destruction, death, or a contagious disease.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: pestFrench: pesteItalian: peste

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'peste' a swear word?

No, it is not a swear word. It is a slightly informal but acceptable word to describe a bad smell or an annoying person.

Does 'peste' only refer to the Black Death?

While it is the name for the plague, in modern daily life, it is much more frequently used to mean a bad smell or to describe someone annoying.