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turbio

TOOR-byoh/ˈtuɾ.βjo/

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

cloudy, murky

Also: muddy
A glass filled with murky, swirling brown liquid where you cannot see through to the other side.

📝 In Action

El agua del río está muy turbia después de la lluvia.

A2

The river water is very murky after the rain.

No bebas ese vino, se ve un poco turbio.

B1

Don't drink that wine; it looks a bit cloudy.

Sus ojos se volvieron turbios por el cansancio.

B2

Their eyes became cloudy from tiredness.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • opaco (opaque/not clear)
  • revuelto (stirred up/cloudy)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • agua turbia – murky water
  • vista turbia – blurred vision

Idioms & Expressions

  • pescar en río revuelto – to take advantage of a confusing or chaotic situation

shady, murky

Also: shady/dodgy
A mysterious figure wearing a dark trench coat and a hat pulled low, standing in a dark alleyway.

📝 In Action

Ese hombre tiene un pasado un poco turbio.

B1

That man has a somewhat murky past.

No me gustan estos negocios turbios.

B1

I don't like these shady business deals.

Todo este asunto me parece muy turbio.

B2

This whole matter seems very suspicious to me.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • negocios turbios – shady business
  • pasado turbio – murky past
  • asunto turbio – shady matter/affair

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "turbio" in Spanish:

cloudy→muddy→murky→shady→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: turbio

Question 1 of 3

If you are swimming in a lake and cannot see your feet through the water, the water is...

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
enturbiar(to make cloudy or to complicate) — Verb
turbiedad(cloudiness or murkiness) — Noun
turbiamente(shadily or cloudily) — Adverb
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin word 'turbidus', which describes something that has been stirred up, confused, or disordered.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: turbidItalian: torbido

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use 'turbio' for a person?

Yes! If you say 'Ese hombre es turbio,' it means he is shady or seems untrustworthy.

Does 'agua turbia' always mean the water is toxic?

No, it just means it isn't clear. It could just be mud or sand stirred up from the bottom.

Is 'turbio' slang?

While it is a standard word, it is used very frequently in slang to mean 'creepy' or 'messed up,' especially among younger people.