Inklingo
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terribles

/teh-REE-blehs/

awful

A vibrant green apple covered in thick, white and green mold, sitting on a wooden surface.

The apple looks awful (terrible) because it is completely spoiled.

terribles(Adjective)

m/fA1

awful

?

extremely bad or unpleasant

,

horrible

?

unpleasant, low quality

Also:

lousy

?

informal, poor quality

,

dreadful

?

general badness

📝 In Action

Las noticias que recibimos fueron terribles.

A1

The news we received was awful.

Sus modales en la mesa son terribles.

A2

His table manners are horrible.

Tuvimos unos días terribles de lluvia y frío.

A2

We had some awful days of rain and cold.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • malos (bad)
  • pésimos (terrible, worst)

Antonyms

  • excelentes (excellent)

Common Collocations

  • problemas terribles – awful problems
  • resultados terribles – terrible results

💡 Grammar Points

Plural Form

This word is the plural form of 'terrible.' It is used when describing two or more things or people.

Gender Agreement

Since the singular form 'terrible' ends in '-e', the plural form 'terribles' is used for both masculine and feminine nouns (e.g., 'días terribles' and 'noticias terribles').

❌ Common Pitfalls

Missing Plural Ending

Mistake: "Los días terrible."

Correction: Los días terribles. (Remember to add the '-s' to the adjective when the noun is plural.)

⭐ Usage Tips

Stronger than 'Malo'

Use 'terribles' when 'bad' (malos/malas) isn't strong enough. It emphasizes extreme negativity.

A small, terrified rabbit is crouching beneath a tree root, looking up anxiously at a massive, dark, stylized storm cloud hovering above.

The looming storm cloud looks dreadful (terrible) and causes the rabbit great fear.

terribles(Adjective)

m/fB1

dreadful

?

causing great fear or suffering

,

terrifying

?

frightening

Also:

horrific

?

shocking and causing fear

📝 In Action

Las heridas de los soldados eran terribles.

B1

The soldiers' wounds were dreadful.

Tuvieron que enfrentar peligros terribles en la montaña.

B2

They had to face terrifying dangers on the mountain.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • espantosos (frightening)
  • crueles (cruel)

Common Collocations

  • condiciones terribles – dreadful conditions

⭐ Usage Tips

Context is Key

When used in news reports or historical accounts, 'terribles' usually carries this stronger meaning of fear and suffering, rather than just 'bad quality'.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: terribles

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'terribles' to describe an unpleasant situation rather than something genuinely frightening?

📚 More Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'terribles' the same for masculine and feminine words?

Yes! The singular form 'terrible' ends in an 'e,' which means it doesn't change based on gender. The plural form 'terribles' is used for both masculine plural nouns (like 'días') and feminine plural nouns (like 'noticias').