violento
/bee-oh-LEHN-toh/
violent
Violento describes aggressive or forceful behavior, like a powerful storm bending a tree.
violento(Adjective)
violent
?aggressive or forceful behavior
,aggressive
?describing a person or temperament
hostile
?relating to intent
📝 In Action
La película era demasiado violenta para los niños.
A2The movie was too violent for the children.
Necesitamos un cambio, esta situación es violenta e injusta.
B1We need a change; this situation is aggressive and unfair.
El guardia de seguridad tuvo que detener al hombre violento.
A2The security guard had to stop the violent man.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender and Number Match
As an adjective, 'violento' must match the thing it describes. Use 'violenta' for feminine singular nouns (la mujer violenta), 'violentos' for masculine plural (los hombres violentos), and 'violentas' for feminine plural (las acciones violentas).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Adjective and Adverb
Mistake: "Él actuó violento."
Correction: Él actuó violentamente. (Use the adverb 'violentamente' when describing how an action was performed.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Describing Behavior
This word is often combined with the verb 'ser' (to be, for permanent traits) or 'estar' (to be, for temporary states). 'Es violento' (He is a violent person). 'Está violento' (He is acting violent right now).
When describing emotions or pain, violento means intense.
violento(Adjective)
intense
?describing emotions or pain
,severe
?describing weather or changes
drastic
?describing changes
,sudden
?describing movement or action
📝 In Action
Tuvimos que parar el coche por el viento violento.
B1We had to stop the car because of the fierce/intense wind.
Sufrió un dolor de cabeza violento después del accidente.
B2He suffered a severe headache after the accident.
La reacción del mercado fue violenta tras el anuncio.
B2The market's reaction was drastic/intense after the announcement.
💡 Grammar Points
Describing Force
When used for things like weather or physical sensations, 'violento' means 'very strong' or 'extreme,' emphasizing the power or suddenness of the event.
⭐ Usage Tips
Use with Natural Events
This is a great word to use in descriptions of storms, earthquakes, or other powerful natural phenomena where you want to emphasize the force involved.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: violento
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'violento' to mean 'intense' rather than 'aggressive'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'violento' only used for people?
No. While it often describes aggressive people or actions (Meaning 1), it is also very common for describing intense natural events like storms, winds, or strong pain (Meaning 2).
What is the difference between 'violento' and 'agresivo'?
They are very similar synonyms, but 'violento' often implies the *use* of physical force or extreme intensity, while 'agresivo' generally refers to a hostile *attitude* or readiness to attack, even without physical action.