How to Say "cruel" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “cruel” is “cruel” — use 'cruel' when describing a person or an action that shows a deliberate desire to cause pain or suffering, often with a moral dimension..
cruel
/kroo-EL//kɾuˈel/
Examples
El carnicero fue cruel con el animal.
The butcher was cruel to the animal.
El dictador era conocido por sus métodos crueles.
The dictator was known for his cruel methods.
La vida a veces puede ser muy cruel e injusta.
Life can sometimes be very harsh and unfair.
Fue un comentario cruel que hirió sus sentimientos.
It was a cruel comment that hurt her feelings.
Gender is Invariable
Unlike many Spanish adjectives, 'cruel' is the same for both masculine and feminine nouns. You say 'el hombre cruel' (the cruel man) and 'la mujer cruel' (the cruel woman).
Forgetting the Plural
Mistake: “Los jefes cruel.”
Correction: The correct plural is 'crueles': Los jefes crueles. Adjectives ending in a consonant add '-es' to become plural.
brutal
broo-TAHL/bɾuˈtal/
Examples
La represión policial fue brutal.
The police repression was brutal.
La policía usó una fuerza brutal contra los manifestantes.
The police used brutal force against the protesters.
El invierno en Siberia es brutal, con temperaturas bajo cero.
Winter in Siberia is harsh (brutal), with temperatures below zero.
Adjective Placement
Like many Spanish adjectives that describe a permanent quality, 'brutal' usually goes after the noun it describes (e.g., 'un calor brutal').
Choosing between 'cruel' and 'brutal'
Related Translations
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