Inklingo

How to Say "premonition" in Spanish

English → Spanish

presentimiento

/pre-sen-tee-mee-en-toh//pɾesentiˈmjento/

nounB2
Use this word when you have a strong, often unexplainable, intuition or gut feeling that something specific is going to happen, especially something negative.
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-soh/aˈβiso/

nounB1
This term is best used for a more formal or official warning or notice about a potential future event, often related to danger or necessary action.
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).

Presentimiento vs. Aviso

Learners often confuse 'presentimiento' and 'aviso' because both can relate to future events. However, 'presentimiento' is about a personal feeling, while 'aviso' is typically an external, often official, warning.

Related Translations

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