Inklingo

How to Say "monster" in Spanish

English → Spanish

monstruo

MOHN-stroh/'monstɾwo/

nounA2general
Use 'monstruo' when referring to a mythical, fictional, or frightening creature, like a dragon or a sea creature.
A friendly, green, furry monster with large eyes and small horns standing in a colorful storybook setting.

Examples

El monstruo debajo de mi cama me daba mucho miedo.

The monster under my bed scared me a lot.

El monstruo marino tenía ojos rojos y dientes afilados.

The sea monster had red eyes and sharp teeth.

Pensaban que había un monstruo viviendo en el pantano.

They thought there was a monster living in the swamp.

Gender Note

Even though 'monstruo' ends in 'o', it can refer to a creature of any gender (male or female). You always use the masculine article: 'el monstruo'.

bestia

/BES-tyah//ˈbes.tja/

nounC1informal
Use 'bestia' metaphorically to describe someone who is incredibly talented or powerful in a specific skill, like a musician or an athlete.
A focused character expertly balancing a very tall, colorful stack of wooden blocks on one fingertip, illustrating great skill.

Examples

Ese jugador de baloncesto es una bestia en la cancha.

That basketball player is a monster on the court.

Ese guitarrista es una bestia, toca increíblemente rápido.

That guitarist is a monster/genius, he plays incredibly fast.

Ganó el campeonato de ajedrez otra vez, es una bestia de la estrategia.

He won the chess championship again, he is a strategic genius.

Literal vs. Figurative Use

Learners often mistakenly use 'bestia' for actual creatures or 'monstruo' for skilled people. Remember, 'monstruo' is for literal monsters, while 'bestia' is an informal compliment for exceptional performance.

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