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How to Say "tremendous" in Spanish

English → Spanish

enorme

eh-NOR-meh/eˈnoɾme/

AdjectiveA1General
Use 'enorme' when you want to emphasize the sheer size or magnitude of something, like a physical object or a large quantity.
A massive gray elephant standing next to a minuscule brown mouse on a green field, visually emphasizing the concept of enormous size.

Examples

El estadio de fútbol es absolutamente enorme.

The soccer stadium is absolutely enormous.

Tuvimos una diferencia enorme en opiniones sobre la película.

We had a huge difference in opinions about the movie.

Ella siente una presión enorme por terminar el proyecto a tiempo.

She feels tremendous pressure to finish the project on time.

It Works for Both Genders

Since 'enorme' ends in the letter '-e', it describes both masculine nouns (el perro enorme) and feminine nouns (la casa enorme) without changing its ending.

Making it Plural

To describe more than one thing, simply add '-s' to the end: 'enormes'. Example: 'los problemas enormes' (the huge problems).

Changing the Gender

Mistake: “La montaña es enorma.”

Correction: La montaña es enorme. Adjectives ending in -e or consonants do not have a separate feminine form in Spanish.

formidable

/for-mee-dah-blay//foɾmiˈdaβle/

adjectiveC1General
Choose 'formidable' when describing something that is impressively large, powerful, or challenging, often implying a sense of awe or difficulty.
A massive, powerful mountain peak with a glowing golden crown of light at the top.

Examples

El equipo se enfrentó a un rival formidable.

The team faced a formidable rival.

La montaña presentaba un reto formidable.

The mountain presented a daunting challenge.

terrible

/teh-REE-bleh//teˈrible/

AdjectiveB2Informal
Use 'terrible' in a positive, informal context to express that something was extremely good or enjoyable, meaning 'great' or 'fantastic'.
A small figure sweating profusely under a tiny umbrella, dwarfed by a massive, intensely bright, radiating sun, symbolizing intense heat or tremendous scale.

Examples

¡Qué fiesta tan terrible! Nos divertimos muchísimo.

What a tremendous party! We had a great time.

Tengo un hambre terrible, podría comerme un caballo.

I'm terribly hungry, I could eat a horse.

El nuevo cantante tiene una voz terrible.

The new singer has a tremendous/powerful voice.

Boosting Another Word's Power

In this use, 'terrible' doesn't mean 'bad'. Instead, it acts like 'very' or 'extremely' to make another word stronger. So, 'un hambre terrible' means 'extreme hunger,' not 'a bad-tasting hunger'.

Confusing 'Bad' with 'Intense'

Mistake: “Hearing '¡Qué mujer tan terrible!' and always assuming it's an insult.”

Correction: It could be an insult, OR it could mean 'What a formidable/impressive woman!'. The speaker's tone of voice and the situation are your best clues to figure out the real meaning.

Beware the 'terrible' trap!

The most common mistake is using 'terrible' when you mean 'awful' in English. In Spanish, 'terrible' can mean 'tremendous' in a positive, informal way. Always consider the positive connotation before using 'terrible' for 'tremendous'.

Related Translations

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