Inklingo

How to Say "premonition" in Spanish

English → Spanish

corazonada

ko-ra-so-NA-dakoɾasoˈnaða

nounB1informal
Use 'corazonada' for a strong, intuitive 'gut feeling' or hunch about a future event, often a personal one.
A person standing at a fork in a forest path, looking towards one trail with a soft, warm glow emanating from their chest.

Examples

Tuve la corazonada de que vendrías hoy.

I had a hunch that you would come today.

Siempre sigo mi corazonada cuando conozco a alguien nuevo.

I always follow my gut feeling when I meet someone new.

Fue una simple corazonada la que me hizo comprar el billete de lotería.

It was a simple hunch that made me buy the lottery ticket.

Using 'Tener' with Corazonada

Just like in English we 'have' a hunch, in Spanish you almost always use 'tener' (to have) or 'seguir' (to follow) with this word.

The Gender of Intuition

This word is always feminine ('la corazonada'), even if a man is the one having the feeling.

Avoid literal 'Heart' meanings

Mistake: “Me duele la corazonada.”

Correction: Me duele el corazón.

presentimiento

pre-sen-tee-mee-en-tohpɾesentiˈmjento

nounB2
Choose 'presentimiento' for a more formal or serious premonition, indicating a strong intuition that something specific, often negative, is about to happen.
A high quality storybook illustration showing a young child standing on a grassy path. Floating in the air just in front of the child's face is a small, translucent, glowing image of a bright red umbrella, symbolizing a sudden premonition.

Examples

Tuve un presentimiento de que algo no iba bien en la reunión.

I had a premonition that something wasn't going well in the meeting.

Ella siempre confía en sus presentimientos, y rara vez se equivoca.

She always trusts her hunches, and she is rarely wrong.

Un profundo presentimiento de fatalidad la invadió al leer la carta.

A deep sense of foreboding overcame her upon reading the letter.

Masculine Noun

Remember that 'presentimiento' is a masculine noun, so you must use 'el' or 'un' before it: 'El presentimiento' (The premonition).

Confusing 'Presentimiento' and 'Sentimiento'

Mistake: “Using 'sentimiento' when you mean an intuition about the future.”

Correction: 'Presentimiento' is about sensing the *future* (pre-), while 'sentimiento' is about current *emotions* (feeling/emotion).

aviso

ah-VEE-sohaˈβiso

nounB1
Use 'aviso' when the premonition is more like an official warning or notification about potential future trouble, often from an authority.
A simple cartoon figure standing next to a large blue puddle, holding up their hand in a clear stopping gesture to warn someone of the hazard.

Examples

La policía emitió un aviso de evacuación.

The police issued an evacuation warning.

Te doy un aviso: no confíes en esa persona.

I'm giving you a warning: don't trust that person.

Gracias por el aviso, casi me olvido de la cita.

Thanks for the heads-up, I almost forgot the appointment.

The Verb Root

Remember that 'aviso' is the noun (the thing). The action is performed using the verb 'avisar' (to warn or notify).

Confusing Noun and Verb

Mistake: “Hice avisar que era peligroso.”

Correction: Di un aviso de que era peligroso. (I gave a warning that it was dangerous.) You 'give' the noun (aviso), you 'do' the verb (avisar).

Gut Feeling vs. Serious Intuition

Learners often confuse 'corazonada' and 'presentimiento'. Remember, 'corazonada' is a more casual, gut-level hunch, while 'presentimiento' implies a stronger, often more serious or ominous, intuition about future events.

Related Translations

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