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How to Say "disastrous" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “disastrous” is “fatal” — use 'fatal' when referring to an outcome that is extremely bad, terrible, or even deadly, often implying a permanent or irreversible negative consequence..

English → Spanish

fatal

fah-TAHL/faˈtal/

adjectiveA2general
Use 'fatal' when referring to an outcome that is extremely bad, terrible, or even deadly, often implying a permanent or irreversible negative consequence.
A piece of toast that has been completely blackened and burnt, sitting alone on a white plate.

Examples

La comida en ese restaurante era fatal, no pudimos terminarla.

The food at that restaurant was terrible; we couldn't finish it.

Mi entrevista de trabajo fue fatal. No creo que me llamen.

My job interview went terribly (was awful). I don't think they'll call me.

Always the Same Form

Unlike most Spanish adjectives, 'fatal' does not change its ending to match the noun's gender (masculine or feminine) or number (singular or plural). It always stays 'fatal'.

Overusing -mente

Mistake: “Hablamos fatalmente de la película.”

Correction: Hablamos fatal de la película. ('Fatal' can act as an adverb without the '-mente' ending.)

trágico

adjectiveB1general
Use 'trágico' specifically for outcomes that are tragic, often involving loss of life, great suffering, or profound sadness.

Examples

Fue un accidente trágico; muchas familias perdieron a sus seres queridos.

It was a tragic accident; many families lost their loved ones.

Fatal vs. Trágico

Learners often confuse 'fatal' and 'trágico' because both describe very negative events. Remember that 'trágico' is specifically for events with profound sorrow or loss, often involving death, while 'fatal' is a broader term for any extremely bad or disastrous outcome, even if not involving death.

Related Translations

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