terrorista
“terrorista” means “terrorist” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
terrorist
📝 In Action
La policía capturó al presunto terrorista cerca de la frontera.
B1The police captured the alleged terrorist near the border.
La terrorista fue identificada gracias a la vigilancia de seguridad.
B2The terrorist (female) was identified thanks to security surveillance.
terrorist
Also: terroristic
📝 In Action
El ataque terrorista fue condenado por la comunidad internacional.
B2The terrorist attack was condemned by the international community.
Se descubrió una amenaza terrorista contra la capital.
B2A terrorist threat against the capital was discovered.
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: terrorista
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'terrorista' to describe a female individual?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the word 'terrorismo' (terrorism), which itself is related to the Latin word 'terrere,' meaning 'to frighten' or 'to cause dread.' The '-ista' ending is common in Spanish to denote a person associated with a practice or ideology.
First recorded: Mid-19th century (in its modern political context)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'terrorista' end in 'a' but can refer to a man?
Words that end in '-ista' in Spanish, like 'artista' or 'dentista,' refer to a person who practices an activity or ideology. They have the same form for both masculine and feminine people. You use 'el' for a man and 'la' for a woman.
¿Es 'terrorista' una palabra fuerte?
Sí, 'terrorista' es una palabra con un significado político y social muy serio. Se utiliza generalmente en contextos de noticias, seguridad y política, y tiene una connotación muy negativa.