- Emotional Intensity
- The phrase carries a high level of emotional weight. It is used for things that are genuinely upsetting, such as an accident, a tragic news story, or a very bad personal experience. It is stronger than saying 'que ruim' (how bad) and implies a sense of being appalled.
When Maria heard about the flood in the neighboring town, she gasped and said: que horrível!.
- Social Context
- In Portuguese culture, showing empathy is highly valued. Using this phrase when someone shares bad news is considered polite and emotionally intelligent. It shows that you are not indifferent to the suffering or inconvenience of others.
Looking at the burnt remains of the historic building, the reporter exclaimed: que horrível!.
- Grammatical Flexibility
- While often used as a standalone interjection, it can be expanded into 'que coisa horrível' (what a horrible thing) or 'que situação horrível' (what a horrible situation) to provide more specific focus to the sentiment.
After tasting the soup that had too much salt, the chef whispered to himself: que horrível!.
The student looked at his failing grade and muttered: que horrível!.
Upon seeing the massive traffic jam on the highway, the driver shouted: que horrível!.
- Structural Variations
- You can modify the phrase by adding nouns. 'Que notícia horrível!' (What a horrible news!) or 'Que tempo horrível!' (What horrible weather!). This makes the expression more specific while maintaining the same emotional impact.
When João saw the graffiti on the ancient statue, he said: que horrível!.
- Agreement Rules
- The adjective 'horrível' is invariable for gender, meaning it stays the same whether you are talking about a masculine noun like 'o filme' or a feminine noun like 'a comida'. However, it does change for number: 'Que coisas horríveis!' (What horrible things!).
The student told her teacher about her lost laptop, and the teacher replied: que horrível!.
- Placement in Conversation
- It often appears as a standalone sentence. It can be preceded by 'Ai,' which is a common Portuguese filler word for pain or shock, as in 'Ai, que horrível!'. This adds a layer of personal distress to the exclamation.
Hearing about the cancellation of the long-awaited concert, the fan cried out: que horrível!.
The witness described the scene of the crime, and the detective noted: que horrível!.
Looking at the mountain of trash left on the beach, the tourist said: que horrível!.
- News Media
- In journalism, while the tone is generally objective, the phrase 'que horrível' might appear in interviews with witnesses or victims. It captures the raw human reaction to a tragic event better than more formal language.
The news reporter interviewed a neighbor about the fire, who said: que horrível!.
- Social Media
- On platforms like Twitter (X) or Instagram, you will see 'que horrível' as a comment on posts showing injustice, bad fashion choices, or unfortunate news. It is often accompanied by emojis like the crying face or the shocked face.
The woman saw the stray dog shivering in the rain and whispered: que horrível!.
- Workplace Dynamics
- In an office, colleagues might use it when discussing a difficult client, a sudden deadline, or a computer crash. It serves as a way to vent shared frustration in a professional yet emotionally honest way.
Seeing the long line at the bank, the elderly man sighed: que horrível!.
The student opened the textbook and saw the complex math problem, thinking: que horrível!.
The traveler arrived at the hotel and found it was nothing like the pictures: que horrível!.
- The 'RR' Sound
- Failing to produce the guttural 'rr' is a major marker of an English accent. If you pronounce it with a tapped 'r' (like in 'pero' in Spanish) or an English 'r', it may be misunderstood. It must be the back-of-the-throat rasp.
The student said 'Como horrível!' instead of que horrível! and the teacher corrected him.
- Overusing Intensity
- Sometimes learners use 'que horrível' for minor inconveniences where 'que chato' (how annoying/boring) would be more appropriate. Using 'horrível' for a slightly late bus might seem overly dramatic depending on the cultural context.
Ricardo pronounced the 'h' in que horrível! and his Brazilian friend didn't understand him at first.
- Confusing with 'Terrível'
- While 'terrível' also means terrible, 'horrível' is much more common as a reactive exclamation. 'Terrível' can sometimes imply a certain power or magnitude, whereas 'horrível' is the go-to for sensory or moral disgust.
The tourist tried to say 'que horrível' but forgot the 'que', just saying 'horrível!', which sounds a bit incomplete in a conversation.
Maria used 'que horrível' to describe a slightly cold coffee, and her friends laughed because she was being too dramatic.
The student wrote 'que horrível' without the accent on the 'í', which changes the pronunciation and is a spelling error.
- Que Horror!
- This is perhaps the closest synonym. While 'que horrível' uses an adjective, 'que horror' uses a noun. It is often used for things that are morally shocking or physically repulsive. It is very common in Portugal.
- Que Chato!
- This means 'how annoying' or 'what a bummer'. Use this for minor problems like a rained-out picnic or a broken shoelace. Using 'que horrível' for these would be considered an exaggeration.
Instead of que horrível!, he said 'que chato' when he found out the bakery was closed.
- Que Péssimo!
- 'Péssimo' is the superlative of 'mau' (bad). This is used for things that are of very low quality or very unfortunate events. It is slightly more formal but very common in Brazil.
She exclaimed 'que horror!' when she saw the messy room, which felt more natural than que horrível! in that context.
- Que Trágico!
- Reserved for truly catastrophic events involving loss of life or great suffering. It is more specific and formal than 'que horrível'.
The teenager said 'que bosta' (vulgar) to his friends, but used que horrível! when talking to his grandmother.
When the movie ended on a sad note, the audience whispered: que horrível!.
The student compared the two phrases and realized that que horrível! was the most versatile for showing empathy.
レベル別の例文
Que horrível!
How horrible!
A1 learners should treat this as a fixed expression.
O café está frio. Que horrível!
The coffee is cold. How horrible!
Simple reaction to a negative sensory experience.
Que notícia horrível!
What horrible news!
Adding a noun to the exclamatory 'que' structure.
Ai, que horrível!
Oh, how horrible!
Using 'Ai' as an emotional filler before the exclamation.
Que tempo horrível!
What horrible weather!
Describing the environment with 'que' + noun + adjective.
O filme é horrível.
The movie is horrible.
Using 'horrível' in a simple declarative sentence.
Que comida horrível!
What horrible food!
Exclaiming about the quality of an object.
Que coisa horrível!
What a horrible thing!
Using 'coisa' as a generic noun for any bad situation.
Você perdeu o ônibus? Que horrível!
You missed the bus? How horrible!
Reactive empathy to a common problem.
Que situação horrível para você.
What a horrible situation for you.
Expanding the phrase to show direct empathy.
Ouvi dizer que o restaurante fechou. Que horrível!
I heard the restaurant closed. How horrible!
Reacting to information shared in conversation.
Que coisas horríveis ele disse!
What horrible things he said!
Plural agreement: 'coisas' (feminine plural) + 'horríveis'.
O trânsito hoje está horrível.
The traffic today is horrible.
Using 'horrível' to describe a current state.
Que cheiro horrível é este?
What horrible smell is this?
Using the phrase in a question-like exclamation.
Ela teve um dia horrível no trabalho.
She had a horrible day at work.
Adjective modifying 'dia' (masculine singular).
Que desenho horrível!
What a horrible drawing!
Simple 'que' + noun + adjective structure.
É horrível ver tanta pobreza nas ruas.
It's horrible to see so much poverty on the streets.
Using 'É horrível' followed by an infinitive verb.
Que horrível! Eu não sabia que ela estava doente.
How horrible! I didn't know she was sick.
Using the exclamation to react to serious personal news.
O acidente foi horrível, mas todos estão bem.
The accident was horrible, but everyone is fine.
Contrasting a 'horrible' event with a positive outcome.
Que experiência horrível você teve no hotel!
What a horrible experience you had at the hotel!
Specific noun 'experiência' used with the exclamatory 'que'.
Achei o comportamento dele horrível.
I found his behavior horrible.
Using the verb 'achar' (to find/think) with 'horrível'.
Que horrível! Como isso pôde acontecer?
How horrible! How could this happen?
Combining the exclamation with a rhetorical question.
O barulho aqui é simplesmente horrível.
The noise here is simply horrible.
Using 'simplesmente' (simply) to intensify 'horrível'.
Que ideia horrível foi essa de sair sem casaco!
What a horrible idea that was to go out without a coat!
Using 'que' + noun + adjective to criticize an action.
É absolutamente horrível a forma como eles tratam os animais.
It is absolutely horrible the way they treat animals.
Using 'absolutamente' for maximum emphasis.
Que horrível! Espero que a situação se resolva logo.
How horrible! I hope the situation gets resolved soon.
Using the exclamation followed by a wish in the subjunctive mood.
Foi um erro horrível, mas temos que seguir em frente.
It was a horrible mistake, but we have to move forward.
Using 'horrível' to describe a professional failure.
Que horrível! Não consigo nem imaginar a dor dele.
How horrible! I can't even imagine his pain.
Expressing deep empathy and inability to comprehend suffering.
A qualidade do som estava horrível durante o concerto.
The sound quality was horrible during the concert.
Technical use of 'horrível' to describe quality.
Que coisa horrível de se dizer a uma criança!
What a horrible thing to say to a child!
Complex exclamatory structure with a prepositional phrase.
Achei horrível que ninguém tenha ajudado a senhora.
I found it horrible that nobody helped the lady.
Expressing moral judgment with 'Achei horrível que' + subjunctive.
Que horrível! Isso estraga completamente os nossos planos.
How horrible! That completely ruins our plans.
Reacting to an event that has negative consequences.
A negligência do governo resultou numa tragédia horrível.
The government's negligence resulted in a horrible tragedy.
Formal sentence structure using 'horrível' as a descriptive adjective.
Que horrível! Sinto uma profunda repulsa por tais atos.
How horrible! I feel a deep revulsion for such acts.
Using high-level vocabulary ('repulsa', 'atos') with the exclamation.
O impacto ambiental daquela empresa é simplesmente horrível.
The environmental impact of that company is simply horrible.
Discussing complex topics with 'horrível'.
Que horrível! É de bradar aos céus tamanha injustiça.
How horrible! Such injustice is enough to cry out to the heavens.
Using an idiomatic expression ('bradar aos céus') with the exclamation.
A peça de teatro foi horrível, uma verdadeira perda de tempo.
The play was horrible, a true waste of time.
Critical evaluation using 'horrível'.
Que horrível! A falta de empatia hoje em dia é assustadora.
How horrible! The lack of empathy nowadays is frightening.
Philosophical observation starting with the exclamation.
Foi uma experiência horrível que me marcou para sempre.
It was a horrible experience that marked me forever.
Using a relative clause to describe the lasting impact of a 'horrible' event.
Que horrível! Não há palavras para descrever tamanha crueldade.
How horrible! There are no words to describe such cruelty.
Acknowledging the limits of language when faced with horror.
A descrição das condições nas minas era absolutamente horrível.
The description of the conditions in the mines was absolutely horrible.
Academic or historical context.
Que horrível! É a antítese de tudo o que defendemos.
How horrible! It is the antithesis of everything we stand for.
Using high-level concepts like 'antítese'.
O autor utiliza o adjetivo 'horrível' para evocar um realismo visceral.
The author uses the adjective 'horrible' to evoke a visceral realism.
Metalinguistic analysis of the word itself.
Que horrível! Tal constatação obriga-nos a repensar a nossa estratégia.
How horrible! Such a realization forces us to rethink our strategy.
Using the exclamation in a high-stakes professional context.
A cacofonia resultante era, para dizer o mínimo, horrível.
The resulting cacophony was, to say the least, horrible.
関連コンテンツ
emotionsの関連語
a sério?
A2seriously?, an expression of surprise, disbelief, or to check earnestness
abalado
A2動揺した、ショックを受けた。彼はそのニュースを聞いてひどく動揺していた。
abalar
A2揺さぶる、動揺させる。そのニュースは彼をひどく動揺させた。
abalo
A2Shock, emotional disturbance; a sudden, disturbing, or upsetting emotional experience.
abandonado
B1Left by the owner or inhabitants; deserted.
abatidamente
B1意気消沈して、またはがっかりした様子で。深い落胆や、心身の消耗を感じさせるような動作を表します。
abatido
A2彼はその知らせを聞いて、とても落ち込んでいる様子だ。
abatimento
A2Dejection; a sad and depressed state; low spirits.
abertamente
A2公然と、隠さずに、率直に。
abismado
B1Filled with astonishment or wonder.