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superficial

soo-pehr-fee-SYAL/supeɾfiˈsjal/

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

superficial

Also: shallow
A close-up illustration of a small, light scratch on a person's forearm.

📝 In Action

El médico dijo que la herida es solo superficial.

B1

The doctor said the wound is only superficial.

Hicieron una limpieza superficial de la casa.

B1

They did a superficial cleaning of the house.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • externo (external)
  • somero (shallow/brief)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • herida superficial – superficial wound
  • examen superficial – brief/surface-level exam

shallow

Also: frivolous
A person standing in a very shallow puddle that only covers their toes.

📝 In Action

No seas tan superficial, lo importante es el interior.

B2

Don't be so shallow; what matters is what's inside.

Su análisis del problema fue muy superficial.

C1

His analysis of the problem was very superficial.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • frívolo (frivolous)
  • insustancial (insubstantial)

Antonyms

  • serio (serious)
  • detallado (detailed)

Common Collocations

  • persona superficial – shallow person
  • conocimiento superficial – surface-level knowledge

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "superficial" in Spanish:

frivolous→shallow→superficial→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: superficial

Question 1 of 1

If someone gives a 'superficial' explanation of a crime, did they provide a lot of detail?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
superficie(surface) — Noun
superficialidad(shallowness) — Noun
superficialmente(superficially) — Adverb
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin word 'superficialis', which is built from 'super' (above) and 'facies' (face or appearance). It literally means 'relating to the face or top layer' of something.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: superficialFrench: superficielItalian: superficiale

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'superficial' a bad word to call someone?

Yes, usually. In a social context, it implies that the person is shallow and only cares about appearances.

Does it change for a girl?

No. Words ending in -l like 'superficial' are gender-neutral. You say 'el chico superficial' and 'la chica superficial'.