terriblemente
/teh-ree-bleh-MEN-teh/
extremely
When used as an intensifier, 'terriblemente' means 'extremely,' emphasizing the magnitude of something, like this extremely large piece of cheese.
terriblemente(adverb)
extremely
?used to emphasize an adjective or verb
,terribly
?used as an intensifier (e.g., terribly good)
awfully
?in the sense of 'very'
,dreadfully
?as a measure of degree
📝 In Action
La película era terriblemente larga; duró tres horas.
B1The movie was extremely long; it lasted three hours.
Aunque no lo creas, el pastel estaba terriblemente delicioso.
B2Believe it or not, the cake was terribly delicious.
Necesitamos esto terriblemente rápido.
B1We need this terribly fast.
💡 Grammar Points
Adverb Form
Most Spanish adverbs ending in '-mente' are created by adding this suffix to the feminine form of an adjective (terrible is already feminine/masculine, so it stays the same).
⭐ Usage Tips
Intensifier of Good Things
Like 'terribly' in English, 'terriblemente' can intensify positive words like 'bien' (well) or 'delicioso' (delicious), meaning 'extremely' rather than 'badly.'
'Terriblemente' can also mean 'horribly,' describing something done in an awful or dreadful way, such as having a picnic ruined horribly by rain.
terriblemente(adverb)
horribly
?in an awful or dreadful way
,dreadfully
?describing the manner of an action
awfully
?when describing poor quality or performance
📝 In Action
El equipo se desempeñó terriblemente en la segunda mitad del partido.
C1The team performed horribly in the second half of the game.
El cantante desafinó y sonó terriblemente.
C1The singer sang out of tune and sounded dreadful.
Ella se sintió terriblemente enferma después de comer el marisco.
B2She felt terribly ill after eating the seafood.
💡 Grammar Points
Modifying Verbs
This adverb usually follows the verb it is describing, telling you how the action was done: 'jugó terriblemente' (played horribly).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Overuse of Literal Meaning
Mistake: "Using 'terriblemente' exclusively for negative actions when 'muy' or 'extremadamente' would be better for neutral intensity."
Correction: Reserve this literal meaning for situations where the action was genuinely bad or awful, like 'jugó terriblemente.'
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: terriblemente
Question 1 of 2
Which English word best captures the meaning of 'terriblemente' in the sentence: 'Mi abuela cocina terriblemente bien.'
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'terriblemente' always negative?
No. While its root means 'dreadful,' it is most often used as a simple intensifier, similar to how we use 'terribly' or 'awfully' in English. You can say something is 'terriblemente bueno' (terribly good).
Can I use 'muy' instead of 'terriblemente'?
Yes, in most cases where 'terriblemente' means 'extremely,' you can use 'muy.' 'Terriblemente' adds more dramatic emphasis and flair than the simpler 'muy.'