Inklingo

How to Say "breathtaking" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “breathtaking” is “impresionante” — use 'impresionante' to describe things that are grand in scale or have a significant impact, like vast landscapes, monumental architecture, or major events..

English → Spanish

impresionante

/im-preh-sioh-NAHN-teh//impɾesjoˈnante/

adjectiveB1general
Use 'impresionante' to describe things that are grand in scale or have a significant impact, like vast landscapes, monumental architecture, or major events.
A small, wide-eyed squirrel stands at the base of a massive, brightly colored sunflower that towers high above it, illustrating a feeling of awe and admiration.

Examples

La vista desde el mirador es absolutamente impresionante.

The view from the viewpoint is absolutely breathtaking.

Tu habilidad para hablar tres idiomas es impresionante.

Your ability to speak three languages is impressive.

Compramos un televisor con una calidad de imagen impresionante.

We bought a television with stunning image quality.

Gender is Easy!

This adjective is special because it stays 'impresionante' whether you are describing a masculine noun (el coche impresionante) or a feminine noun (la casa impresionante). It does not change gender.

Making it Plural

To describe more than one thing, simply add '-s' to the end: 'impresionante' becomes 'impresionantes'. Example: 'Los efectos especiales son impresionantes'.

Forgetting the Plural

Mistake: “Las montañas eran impresionante.”

Correction: Las montañas eran impresionantes. (Because 'montañas' is plural, the adjective must also be plural.)

asombrosa

ah-som-BRO-sah/asomˈbɾosa/

adjectiveB1general
Choose 'asombrosa' when you want to express wonder and amazement, particularly for things that surprise you with their excellence, like a stunning performance or a remarkable achievement.
A small child looking up at a giant, glowing, colorful flower with wide eyes of wonder.

Examples

La vista desde la cima es asombrosa.

The view from the top is amazing.

Ella tiene una capacidad asombrosa para aprender idiomas.

She has an astonishing ability to learn languages.

Es una noticia asombrosa, no me lo esperaba.

It is amazing news, I wasn't expecting it.

Feminine Agreement

Since this word ends in 'a', you must use it with feminine nouns like 'la idea' or 'una mujer'. For masculine nouns, change it to 'asombroso'.

Asombrosa vs. Asombrada

Mistake: “Using 'asombrosa' to say you are surprised.”

Correction: Use 'asombrosa' for the thing that is amazing. Use 'asombrada' to describe a person feeling surprised (e.g., 'Estoy asombrada').

mágica

adjectiveB1general
Use 'mágica' to describe something that feels enchanting or has a special, almost supernatural beauty, often used for romantic or deeply moving experiences.

Examples

Fue una noche mágica, llena de estrellas.

It was a wonderful night, full of stars.

Impresionante vs. Asombrosa

Learners often confuse 'impresionante' and 'asombrosa'. Remember that 'impresionante' leans towards grandeur and impact, while 'asombrosa' emphasizes surprise and wonder. Use 'impresionante' for scale and 'asombrosa' for marvel.

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