How to Say "unsightly" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “unsightly” is “horroroso” — use this word for something extremely ugly or repulsive, often in a more formal or emphatic way to express strong dislike..
horroroso
/oh-roh-ROH-soh//oroˈɾoso/
Examples
Ese cuadro es horroroso, no me gusta nada.
That painting is hideous; I don't like it at all.
Llevaba unas gafas horrorosas que no le quedaban bien.
He was wearing some hideous glasses that didn't suit him.
La decoración de la fiesta era horrorosa y muy anticuada.
The party decorations were hideous and very old-fashioned.
Matching the word to the object
This word must change its ending to match what you are describing. Use 'horroroso' for masculine items and 'horrorosa' for feminine items.
Where to put the word
Usually, you place 'horroroso' after the thing it describes, like 'un coche horroroso.' If you put it before the word, it sounds much more dramatic.
Pronouncing the H
Mistake: “Pronouncing it like 'Horroroso' with an English H sound.”
Correction: In Spanish, the 'H' is always silent. Start the word with the 'O' sound: /oh-roh-ROH-soh/.
grotesco
/gro-TESS-ko//ɡɾoˈtesko/
Examples
Esa máscara de carnaval es un poco grotesca.
That carnival mask is a bit grotesque.
Tuvimos que soportar una situación grotesca en la oficina.
We had to endure a bizarre situation at the office.
El dictador vivía rodeado de un lujo grotesco mientras el pueblo sufría.
The dictator lived surrounded by ridiculous luxury while the people suffered.
Changing the Ending
This word changes to 'grotesca' when describing something feminine (like 'la situación') and 'grotescos/as' for plurals.
Describing Feelings
Use this word with 'ser' to describe a permanent quality (it is inherently weird) or 'resultar' to say how something seems to you.
False Friend Alert
Mistake: “Using 'grotesco' to mean 'gross' as in 'disgusting food'.”
Correction: For disgusting food, use 'asqueroso'. 'Grotesco' is more about being weird, distorted, or absurdly ugly.
Horroroso vs. Grotesco
Related Translations
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