How to Say "creepy" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “creepy” is “siniestro” — use 'siniestro' for a general feeling of unease or a slightly unsettling appearance, often used informally.
see-nee-ESS-trohsiˈnjestɾo
Examples
La casa abandonada tiene un aspecto muy siniestro.
The abandoned house looks very sinister.
Ese hombre tiene una mirada siniestra.
That man has a creepy look in his eyes.
Había un silencio siniestro en el bosque.
There was a spooky silence in the forest.
Matching the Ending
Since this is a word that describes things, the ending must match. Use 'siniestro' for masculine things and 'siniestra' for feminine things.
Placement for Drama
While it usually goes after the word it describes, putting it before (e.g., 'el siniestro plan') makes the sentence sound more poetic or like a thriller movie.
Siniestro vs. Malvado
Mistake: “Using 'siniestro' for a person who does bad things.”
Correction: Use 'malvado' (evil) for someone's character. 'Siniestro' is better for how someone or something LOOKS or feels (creepy).
es-peh-loos-NAN-tehespeluθˈnante
Examples
La película de anoche tuvo un final espeluznante.
Last night's movie had a hair-raising ending.
Escuchamos un grito espeluznante que venía del sótano.
We heard a spine-chilling scream coming from the basement.
Los detalles del accidente son realmente espeluznantes.
The details of the accident are truly horrifying.
One Form for Everyone
This word ends in 'e', which means it always stays the same regardless of whether you are describing a masculine or feminine person or thing.
Don't change the ending
Mistake: “una historia espeluznanta”
Correction: una historia espeluznante. Even though 'historia' is feminine, words ending in 'e' don't change to 'a'.
Siniestro vs. Espeluznante
Learners often confuse 'siniestro' and 'espeluznante' by using 'siniestro' for truly frightening situations. Remember, 'siniestro' is generally milder and more about an unsettling vibe, while 'espeluznante' implies a more intense, fear-inducing quality.
Related Translations
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