Inklingo

How to Say "nightmare" in Spanish

English → Spanish

pesadilla

/peh-sah-DEE-yah//pesaˈðiʎa/

nounA2general
Use 'pesadilla' when referring to a frightening or disturbing dream you had while sleeping, or a very difficult and stressful situation.
A simple illustration of a child sleeping soundly in a dark room. A large, stylized shadow monster with sharp features looms menacingly over the child's bed.

Examples

Anoche tuve una pesadilla muy vívida donde me perseguía un monstruo.

Last night I had a very vivid nightmare where a monster was chasing me.

Cuando era niño, las pesadillas me daban mucho miedo y lloraba.

When I was a child, nightmares scared me a lot and I would cry.

Intentar conseguir los permisos fue una pesadilla burocrática.

Trying to get the permits was a bureaucratic nightmare.

La construcción de la casa se convirtió en una pesadilla financiera para ellos.

The construction of the house turned into a financial nightmare for them.

Gender is Fixed

'Pesadilla' is always feminine, so use 'la' or 'una' before it, even though the word 'peso' (weight) is masculine.

Using 'Ser' and 'Convertirse'

When referring to a situation, you often use 'ser' (to be) or 'convertirse en' (to turn into): 'Es una pesadilla' or 'Se convirtió en una pesadilla'.

pesadilla

/peh-sah-DEE-yah//pesaˈðiʎa/

nounB2general
Use 'pesadilla' to describe a situation that is extremely difficult, stressful, or frustrating, often involving complex processes or obstacles.
A simple illustration of a child sleeping soundly in a dark room. A large, stylized shadow monster with sharp features looms menacingly over the child's bed.

Examples

Intentar conseguir los permisos fue una pesadilla burocrática.

Trying to get the permits was a bureaucratic nightmare.

Anoche tuve una pesadilla muy vívida donde me perseguía un monstruo.

Last night I had a very vivid nightmare where a monster was chasing me.

Cuando era niño, las pesadillas me daban mucho miedo y lloraba.

When I was a child, nightmares scared me a lot and I would cry.

La construcción de la casa se convirtió en una pesadilla financiera para ellos.

The construction of the house turned into a financial nightmare for them.

Gender is Fixed

'Pesadilla' is always feminine, so use 'la' or 'una' before it, even though the word 'peso' (weight) is masculine.

Using 'Ser' and 'Convertirse'

When referring to a situation, you often use 'ser' (to be) or 'convertirse en' (to turn into): 'Es una pesadilla' or 'Se convirtió en una pesadilla'.

infierno

/in-FYEHR-noh//inˈfjeɾ.no/

nounB2general
Use 'infierno' metaphorically to describe an experience that is extremely unpleasant, chaotic, or torturous, similar to the English 'hell'.
A chaotic scene of extreme traffic congestion on a city street during a heatwave, with many cars stuck bumper-to-bumper, symbolizing a terrible situation.

Examples

El tráfico a esta hora es un infierno.

The traffic at this time is hell.

Vivir con tanto ruido fue un infierno para mí.

Living with so much noise was hell for me.

El incendio convirtió el edificio en un infierno.

The fire turned the building into an inferno.

Pesadilla vs. Infierno

Learners often confuse 'pesadilla' and 'infierno' when translating 'nightmare'. Remember that 'pesadilla' is the direct translation for a bad dream and can also mean a difficult situation, while 'infierno' is a stronger, more figurative term for something extremely unpleasant, like 'hell'.

Related Translations

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