Inklingo

How to Say "aggressive" in Spanish

English → Spanish

agresivo

/ah-greh-SEE-boh//a.ɣɾeˈsi.βo/

adjectiveA2general
Use 'agresivo' when describing someone or something that exhibits hostility, a readiness to attack, or a confrontational attitude.
A small dog baring its teeth and growling at a toy.

Examples

Mi perro no es agresivo, solo quiere jugar.

My dog is not aggressive; he just wants to play.

Me asusté porque me habló con un tono muy agresivo.

I got scared because he spoke to me in a very aggressive tone.

Matching Gender and Number

Since this is a describing word, change the ending to '-a' for girls/feminine objects, '-os' for groups of boys, and '-as' for groups of girls.

The Double 'G' Trap

Mistake: “aggresivo”

Correction: agresivo (only one 'g' in Spanish!)

violento

bee-oh-LEHN-toh/bjoˈlento/

adjectiveA2general
Use 'violento' when referring to a person's temperament that is prone to violence, or when describing something that is characterized by physical force or intensity, like a movie or a storm.
A colorful illustration of a small tree being bent severely by a powerful, unseen wind, symbolizing forceful action.

Examples

La película era demasiado violenta para los niños.

The movie was too violent for the children.

Necesitamos un cambio, esta situación es violenta e injusta.

We need a change; this situation is aggressive and unfair.

El guardia de seguridad tuvo que detener al hombre violento.

The security guard had to stop the violent man.

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).

Confusing Adjective and Adverb

Mistake: “Él actuó violento.”

Correction: Él actuó violentamente. (Use the adverb 'violentamente' when describing how an action was performed.)

Agresivo vs. Violento

Learners often confuse 'agresivo' and 'violento'. While 'agresivo' focuses on hostility or a tendency to attack, 'violento' implies a stronger, more physical force or a generally aggressive temperament. Think of 'agresivo' as a direct threat and 'violento' as a broader characterization of harmful or intense behavior.

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