terrible
terrible in 30 Seconds
- Means extremely bad or awful.
- Does not change for masculine/feminine.
- Adds an 's' for plural (terribles).
- Often used to exaggerate minor annoyances.
El accidente de ayer fue verdaderamente terrible.
- Physical Pain
- Used to describe intense, unbearable bodily suffering or discomfort.
Tengo un dolor de cabeza terrible.
La noticia fue terrible para la familia.
- Emotional Distress
- Employed to articulate profound sadness, fear, or psychological trauma.
Hace un frío terrible esta noche.
- Quality Assessment
- Used to critique objects, services, or experiences that are of exceptionally poor quality.
El servicio en ese restaurante es terrible.
Pasamos por una situación terrible.
- Post-nominal Placement
- Placing 'terrible' after the noun provides an objective description of the noun's severe quality.
Fue un terrible error de cálculo.
- Pre-nominal Placement
- Placing 'terrible' before the noun emphasizes the speaker's subjective emotional reaction.
La comida en ese lugar está terrible.
¡Qué terrible lo que le pasó a Juan!
- Exclamatory Usage
- Used with '¡Qué...!' to express immediate shock or profound sympathy.
Ese fue un terrible malentendido.
El huracán dejó una destrucción terrible en la costa.
- News Media
- Frequently used by journalists to describe disasters, crimes, and severe crises.
El tráfico en la ciudad está terrible a esta hora.
- Casual Conversation
- Used hyperbolically to complain about daily annoyances like traffic, weather, or minor pains.
Ese jugador tuvo un partido terrible.
- Cultural Critique
- Employed to harshly judge the quality of art, entertainment, or services.
La calidad de este producto es terrible.
Tengo una sed terrible después de correr.
No digas que la fiesta fue terrible si te divertiste.
- False Friend Confusion
- Never use 'terrible' to mean 'terrific' or 'great'; it is always a negative word in standard Spanish.
Es una idea terrible, no 'terribla'.
- Overuse and Hyperbole
- Using 'terrible' for minor inconveniences can dilute its impact and sound overly dramatic.
Tuvieron problemas terribles con el coche.
- Placement Errors
- Incorrectly placing the adjective can alter the intended emotional weight of the sentence.
Cometió un error terrible en el examen.
El ruido era verdaderamente terrible.
El clima no solo era malo, era terrible.
- Horrible
- A direct synonym conveying strong revulsion or fear, often used interchangeably with terrible.
Fue un crimen terrible y espantoso.
- Pésimo
- The absolute superlative of bad; used to describe the lowest possible quality.
El resultado del proyecto fue terrible y desastroso.
- Fatal
- Colloquially used to mean things went terribly wrong or feel awful.
Me siento terrible por lo que dije.
La situación económica es terrible y atroz.
How Formal Is It?
"Las consecuencias de la crisis económica son terribles para el país."
"El tráfico hoy está terrible."
"¡Me fue terrible en el examen, no sé nada!"
"Ese monstruo del cuento es muy terrible."
"(In some regions) ¡Ese coche es terrible! (Meaning awesome/huge)"
Fun Fact
Because it shares the exact same spelling and a very similar meaning in English, French, and Spanish, 'terrible' is one of the most universally recognized adjectives among speakers of Western European languages.
Pronunciation Guide
- Pronouncing the 'r' softly like in English 'terrible'. It must be a strong, rolling Spanish 'rr'.
- Diphthongizing the final 'e' to sound like 'ay' (terribl-ay). It should be a short, crisp 'e'.
- Pronouncing the 'i' like the 'ih' in English 'hit'. It should be a sharp 'ee' sound.
- Stressing the first syllable (TE-rri-ble) instead of the second (te-RRI-ble).
- Pronouncing the 'b' too hard; it should be a soft, continuous 'v/b' sound (fricative β) between vowels.
Difficulty Rating
Very easy to recognize due to being a perfect cognate with English.
Easy to spell, but learners must remember plural agreement (terribles).
Requires mastering the trilled 'rr' sound for accurate pronunciation.
Easy to identify, though fast speech might obscure the final 'e'.
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Adjective Agreement (Number)
El problema es terrible. -> Los problemas son terribles.
Adjective Agreement (Gender Invariance)
El chico terrible. -> La chica terrible.
Ser vs. Estar with Adjectives
El invierno es terrible (always). -> El clima hoy está terrible (temporary).
Pre-nominal vs. Post-nominal Adjectives
Un ruido terrible (objective) vs. Un terrible ruido (emotional emphasis).
Exclamatory Sentences with Qué
¡Qué terrible situación!
Examples by Level
El libro es terrible.
The book is terrible.
Used with 'ser' to describe a permanent quality.
El clima está terrible.
The weather is terrible.
Used with 'estar' for a temporary condition.
La comida es terrible.
The food is terrible.
Feminine noun 'comida' uses the same form 'terrible'.
El perro es terrible.
The dog is terrible (naughty).
Can mean naughty or badly behaved for pets/children.
Es un día terrible.
It is a terrible day.
Placed after the indefinite article and noun.
Los zapatos son terribles.
The shoes are terrible.
Plural form 'terribles' agrees with 'zapatos'.
Tengo un problema terrible.
I have a terrible problem.
Placed after the noun 'problema'.
El ruido es terrible.
The noise is terrible.
Simple subject-verb-adjective structure.
Ayer tuve un día terrible en el trabajo.
Yesterday I had a terrible day at work.
Used with the preterite tense 'tuve'.
Me duele la cabeza, es un dolor terrible.
My head hurts, it's a terrible pain.
Collocation: 'dolor terrible'.
La película que vimos anoche fue terrible.
The movie we saw last night was terrible.
Used to evaluate a past experience.
¡Qué terrible lo que pasó en la ciudad!
How terrible what happened in the city!
Exclamatory structure with '¡Qué...'.
El tráfico estaba terrible esta mañana.
The traffic was terrible this morning.
Used with the imperfect tense 'estaba'.
Tengo un hambre terrible, necesito comer.
I have a terrible hunger, I need to eat.
Hyperbolic use to mean 'very hungry'.
Ese restaurante tiene un servicio terrible.
That restaurant has terrible service.
Describing the quality of a service.
Las noticias de hoy son terribles.
Today's news is terrible.
Plural agreement with 'noticias'.
Me parece terrible que no reciclen la basura.
It seems terrible to me that they don't recycle the trash.
Used with 'parecer' and the subjunctive 'reciclen'.
Fue un terrible error no estudiar para el examen.
It was a terrible mistake not to study for the exam.
Pre-nominal placement for emotional emphasis.
A pesar del terrible frío, salimos a caminar.
Despite the terrible cold, we went out for a walk.
Used after a prepositional phrase 'A pesar de'.
La situación económica del país es verdaderamente terrible.
The economic situation of the country is truly terrible.
Modified by the adverb 'verdaderamente'.
Sufrió un accidente terrible, pero afortunadamente está bien.
He suffered a terrible accident, but fortunately he is fine.
Used in a compound sentence with a contrast.
Es terrible tener que esperar tanto tiempo en la fila.
It is terrible to have to wait so long in line.
Impersonal structure 'Es terrible + infinitive'.
El olor en esa habitación era absolutamente terrible.
The smell in that room was absolutely terrible.
Modified by the strong adverb 'absolutamente'.
Tuvieron una discusión terrible y dejaron de hablarse.
They had a terrible argument and stopped talking to each other.
Describing a severe interpersonal conflict.
La terrible magnitud del desastre natural dejó a todos conmocionados.
The terrible magnitude of the natural disaster left everyone shocked.
Pre-nominal placement modifying an abstract noun 'magnitud'.
Es una ironía terrible que el bombero haya perdido su propia casa en un incendio.
It is a terrible irony that the firefighter lost his own house in a fire.
Modifying an abstract concept 'ironía'.
Se enfrentaron a un dilema terrible: salvar la empresa o despedir a los empleados.
They faced a terrible dilemma: save the company or fire the employees.
Used to describe a severe, complex problem.
El crítico literario describió la novela como una obra de una mediocridad terrible.
The literary critic described the novel as a work of terrible mediocrity.
Used in a formal, evaluative context.
Aquel fue un secreto terrible que guardó durante toda su vida.
That was a terrible secret that he kept his whole life.
Used in a narrative, dramatic context.
La presión social para tener éxito puede ser una carga terrible para los jóvenes.
The social pressure to succeed can be a terrible burden for young people.
Describing a psychological or emotional weight.
Resulta terrible constatar la falta de empatía en la sociedad actual.
It is terrible to confirm the lack of empathy in today's society.
Formal impersonal structure 'Resulta terrible + infinitive'.
El equipo sufrió una derrota terrible que los dejó fuera del campeonato.
The team suffered a terrible defeat that left them out of the championship.
Describing a severe, consequential loss.
La terrible lucidez con la que analizó su propio fracaso fue desoladora.
The terrible lucidity with which he analyzed his own failure was devastating.
Modifying a highly abstract, intellectual concept.
Imbuido de una terrible melancolía, el protagonista se sumió en un letargo existencial.
Imbued with a terrible melancholy, the protagonist sank into an existential lethargy.
Literary usage, pre-nominal placement for poetic effect.
Las terribles secuelas de la guerra civil aún resuenan en la memoria colectiva del país.
The terrible aftermath of the civil war still resonates in the collective memory of the country.
Formal, historical context describing long-term impacts.
Es de una irresponsabilidad terrible que los líderes ignoren las advertencias de los científicos.
It is of a terrible irresponsibility that leaders ignore the warnings of scientists.
Structure 'ser de una [noun] terrible' for strong condemnation.
El silencio que siguió a la acusación fue denso y terrible.
The silence that followed the accusation was dense and terrible.
Used as a predicate adjective to build intense atmospheric tension.
Experimentó una terrible epifanía al darse cuenta de que había desperdiciado su juventud.
He experienced a terrible epiphany upon realizing he had wasted his youth.
Combining 'terrible' with a profound psychological event.
La obra expone la terrible dicotomía entre el deseo individual y el deber social.
The play exposes the terrible dichotomy between individual desire and social duty.
Academic/critical register analyzing thematic elements.
Se desató una tormenta de una furia terrible, arrancando árboles de cuajo.
A storm of terrible fury broke out, uprooting trees entirely.
Descriptive, evocative language for extreme natural phenomena.
La terrible belleza de la erupción volcánica cautivó y aterrorizó a los espectadores por igual.
The terrible beauty of the volcanic eruption captivated and terrified the spectators equally.
Oxymoronic use ('terrible belleza') typical of high literary style.
En su ensayo, desentraña la terrible banalidad del mal en las burocracias totalitarias.
In his essay, he unravels the terrible banality of evil in totalitarian bureaucracies.
Philosophical context, referencing complex concepts (Arendt).
Aquel silencio no era pacífico, sino que albergaba una terrible premonición de la tragedia inminente.
That silence was not peaceful, but rather harbored a terrible premonition of the impending tragedy.
Nuanced atmospheric description in narrative prose.
La terrible certidumbre de su propia mortalidad lo paralizó por un instante.
The terrible certainty of his own mortality paralyzed him for an instant.
Expressing profound existential dread.
Manejaba la ironía con una destreza terrible, capaz de desarmar a cualquier oponente en el debate.
He handled irony with a terrible skill, capable of disarming any opponent in the debate.
Used to mean 'formidable' or 'fearsomely impressive' in a specific context.
La terrible simetría del universo a menudo escapa a la comprensión humana.
The terrible symmetry of the universe often escapes human comprehension.
Evoking the sublime; awe mixed with fear (Blakean reference).
Se vio atrapado en la terrible maquinaria de un sistema judicial implacable y ciego.
He found himself trapped in the terrible machinery of a relentless and blind judicial system.
Metaphorical use to describe oppressive systemic forces.
Su prosa, desprovista de adornos, revela la terrible crudeza de la vida en los márgenes de la sociedad.
His prose, devoid of ornaments, reveals the terrible rawness of life on the margins of society.
Literary critique describing raw, unmitigated realism.
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
— An exclamation used to express shock, dismay, or sympathy when hearing bad news.
¿Perdiste tu trabajo? ¡Qué terrible!
— To have a very bad time or experience a lot of suffering in a situation.
Lo pasé terrible durante el vuelo.
— To feel very bad, either physically ill or emotionally guilty/sad.
Me siento terrible por haber olvidado tu cumpleaños.
— A very naughty, hyperactive, or badly behaved child.
Su hijo menor es un niño terrible.
— To have very bad weather.
Hoy hace un tiempo terrible para ir a la playa.
— A severe migraine or headache.
No puedo trabajar, tengo un dolor de cabeza terrible.
Often Confused With
False friend! 'Terrific' in English means great/excellent. 'Terrible' in Spanish ALWAYS means bad/awful.
Very similar in meaning, but 'horrible' often leans more towards visual ugliness or physical disgust, while 'terrible' is broader.
'Malo' just means bad. 'Terrible' is much stronger, meaning extremely bad or awful.
Idioms & Expressions
— Refers to an 'enfant terrible', someone who is unconventional, rebellious, and causes controversy in their field.
Es el niño terrible de la literatura contemporánea.
formal/literary— To be in a very bad mood.
No le hables hoy, está de un humor terrible.
neutral— To have a very bad temper.
Mi jefe tiene un genio terrible cuando se estresa.
neutral— To be a severe punishment or a very difficult ordeal.
Tener que limpiar todo esto es un castigo terrible.
neutral— To be freezing cold (colloquial extension).
Afuera hace un frío terrible, abrígate bien.
informal— To go through a very difficult or dangerous situation.
Se las vio terribles para poder pagar la deuda.
informal— To be very fierce or aggressive (often used metaphorically).
En la cancha, ese jugador es una fiera terrible.
informal— To require a massive, exhausting amount of effort.
Me costó un esfuerzo terrible terminar la maratón.
neutral— To get a massive fright or scare.
Me llevé un susto terrible cuando saltó la alarma.
neutral— To leave a profound sense of loss or emptiness (usually after a death).
Su partida dejó un vacío terrible en la familia.
formalEasily Confused
They look and sound similar due to shared etymology.
In English, 'terrific' evolved to mean 'excellent'. In Spanish, 'terrible' retained the original Latin meaning of 'causing terror' or 'very bad'.
The party was terrific (fantástica), not terrible (terrible).
Both start with 'tre/ter' and are used for emphasis.
'Tremendo' can mean terrible, but it is also widely used to mean 'huge', 'immense', or 'intense' (e.g., un calor tremendo). 'Terrible' is strictly negative.
Hace un frío tremendo (huge cold) vs. Fue un error terrible (awful mistake).
Both are strong negative adjectives.
'Espantoso' literally means 'frightening' or 'appalling' and is slightly stronger and more dramatic than 'terrible' in everyday use.
Un crimen espantoso (an appalling crime).
Used in similar colloquial contexts to mean 'awful'.
'Fatal' is very colloquial when meaning 'awful' (e.g., me fue fatal). 'Terrible' is slightly more standard and versatile across formal/informal registers.
El examen me salió fatal (I did awful on the exam).
Both describe bad quality.
'Pésimo' is the absolute superlative (the worst possible), whereas 'terrible' just means very bad. 'Pésimo' is often used for services or products.
El servicio fue pésimo (The service was the absolute worst).
Sentence Patterns
[Noun] + ser/estar + terrible.
El examen es terrible.
Tener + un + [noun] + terrible.
Tengo un dolor terrible.
Fue + un + [noun] + terrible.
Fue un día terrible.
¡Qué + terrible + [noun/situation]!
¡Qué terrible noticia!
Me parece + terrible + que + [subjunctive].
Me parece terrible que llueva.
Es + terrible + [infinitive].
Es terrible perder el tren.
Un + terrible + [noun abstract].
Un terrible dilema.
Ser + de un/una + [noun] + terrible.
Es de una crueldad terrible.
Word Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
Very High
-
La fiesta fue terrible, ¡me encantó!
→
La fiesta fue fantástica, ¡me encantó!
Learners confuse 'terrible' with the English word 'terrific'. In Spanish, 'terrible' always means bad.
-
Tengo una idea terribla.
→
Tengo una idea terrible.
'Terrible' ends in 'e' and is gender-neutral. It never changes to 'terribla' for feminine nouns.
-
Los ruidos son terrible.
→
Los ruidos son terribles.
You must add an 's' to 'terrible' when it modifies a plural noun like 'ruidos'.
-
El clima es terrible hoy.
→
El clima está terrible hoy.
When describing a temporary condition like today's weather, you must use 'estar', not 'ser'.
-
Estoy terrible cansado.
→
Estoy terriblemente cansado.
'Terrible' is an adjective. To modify another adjective (tired), you must use the adverb form 'terriblemente'.
Tips
Gender Neutrality
Adjectives ending in '-e' like 'terrible' do not change for masculine or feminine nouns. It's always 'el niño terrible' and 'la niña terrible'.
Roll the RR
Make sure to strongly trill the 'rr' in the middle of the word. A weak English 'r' will make you sound like a beginner.
Beware the False Friend
Never use 'terrible' to mean 'terrific' or 'great'. It is strictly a negative word in Spanish.
Placement for Drama
Put 'terrible' before the noun (un terrible error) when you want to sound more emotional, dramatic, or subjective.
Reacting to Bad News
Memorize the phrase '¡Qué terrible!'. It is the perfect, natural way to respond when a Spanish speaker tells you something bad happened to them.
Pluralization
Don't forget to add the 's' when talking about multiple things. 'Tengo problemas terribles', not 'problemas terrible'.
Ser vs. Estar
Remember: 'El clima está terrible' (temporary weather today) vs. 'El invierno aquí es terrible' (permanent characteristic of the season).
Expand Your Synonyms
If you are talking about bad service, try using 'pésimo' instead of 'terrible' to sound more advanced and precise.
Learn Word Pairs
Learn 'terrible' with the words it frequently modifies, like 'un dolor terrible' (pain), 'un ruido terrible' (noise), and 'un error terrible' (mistake).
Hyperbolic Complaining
Don't be surprised if native speakers use 'terrible' for minor things like being hungry or stuck in traffic; hyperbolic complaining is common.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of a TERRIFYING BULL (terri-ble) charging at you; that would be a TERRIBLE situation.
Visual Association
Imagine a giant, red, angry face with the word 'TERRIBLE' stamped across its forehead, representing a very bad day or a severe headache.
Word Web
Challenge
Write three sentences describing the worst meal you ever had, using 'terrible' to describe the taste, the smell, and the service.
Word Origin
The word 'terrible' comes directly from the Latin word 'terribilis', which means 'frightful' or 'causing terror'. 'Terribilis' itself is derived from the Latin verb 'terrere', meaning 'to frighten' or 'to terrify'. It entered the Spanish language maintaining its core meaning of something that induces fear or is exceptionally bad. Over centuries, its usage broadened from strictly meaning 'terrifying' to encompassing anything of very poor quality or high severity.
Original meaning: Causing terror or fright.
Indo-European > Italic > Romance > Ibero-Romance > SpanishCultural Context
When someone shares bad news, responding with '¡Qué terrible!' is culturally appropriate and shows empathy. Do not use it lightly if the situation is genuinely tragic.
English speakers must remember NOT to use 'terrible' to mean 'terrific' (great). In Spanish, 'terrible' is always negative.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Describing Weather
- clima terrible
- frío terrible
- calor terrible
- tormenta terrible
Discussing Health/Pain
- dolor terrible
- sentirse terrible
- aspecto terrible
- enfermedad terrible
Evaluating Experiences
- día terrible
- viaje terrible
- película terrible
- comida terrible
Reacting to News
- ¡Qué terrible!
- noticia terrible
- situación terrible
- accidente terrible
Describing Mistakes/Problems
- error terrible
- problema terrible
- consecuencia terrible
- idea terrible
Conversation Starters
"¿Alguna vez has tenido un viaje de vacaciones que fue absolutamente terrible? ¿Qué pasó?"
"¿Cuál crees que es el problema más terrible que enfrenta el mundo hoy en día?"
"Cuéntame sobre una película que viste recientemente y que te pareció terrible."
"¿Qué haces para relajarte después de tener un día terrible en el trabajo o la escuela?"
"¿Alguna vez has cometido un error terrible del que aprendiste una gran lección?"
Journal Prompts
Escribe sobre el día más terrible que has tenido este año y cómo lo superaste.
Describe una comida terrible que probaste una vez. ¿Qué ingredientes tenía y por qué no te gustó?
Imagina que eres un crítico de cine. Escribe una reseña de una película terrible inventada.
Reflexiona sobre una noticia terrible que leíste recientemente y cómo te hizo sentir.
Escribe sobre un 'niño terrible' que conociste en tu infancia y las travesuras que hacía.
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsNo, 'terrible' is a gender-neutral adjective because it ends in the letter 'e'. It remains exactly the same whether it modifies a masculine noun (el día terrible) or a feminine noun (la noche terrible). You only need to change it for plural nouns by adding an 's' (los días terribles).
Absolutely not. This is a very common 'false friend' mistake. In Spanish, 'terrible' is always a negative word meaning very bad, awful, or dreadful. If you want to say something is terrific or great, you should use words like 'fantástico', 'maravilloso', or 'genial'.
The 'rr' in 'terrible' must be strongly trilled or rolled. It is not the soft English 'r'. Place the tip of your tongue against the alveolar ridge (just behind your upper teeth) and force air over it to make it vibrate. Practice saying 'te-RRI-ble' with emphasis on that vibration.
Usually, you put it after the noun for an objective description (e.g., 'un accidente terrible'). However, placing it before the noun (e.g., 'un terrible accidente') is also correct and is used to add subjective, emotional emphasis or dramatic flair to your sentence.
Use 'ser terrible' to describe a permanent characteristic or general fact (e.g., 'La guerra es terrible' - War is terrible). Use 'estar terrible' to describe a temporary condition, state, or the result of an action (e.g., 'El clima está terrible hoy' - The weather is terrible today).
'Terrible' is highly versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. You will hear it in casual conversations complaining about traffic, and you will also read it in formal news reports describing natural disasters.
You say 'Me siento terrible'. This can be used to express physical illness (like having a bad flu) or emotional distress (like feeling very guilty about a mistake).
The plural is 'terribles'. Simply add an 's' to the end. For example, 'los problemas terribles' (the terrible problems) or 'las tormentas terribles' (the terrible storms).
No, 'terrible' is an adjective. If you want to use it as an adverb (terribly), you must use the form 'terriblemente'. For example, 'Estoy terriblemente cansado' (I am terribly tired).
Spanish has many great synonyms! You can use 'horrible' (horrible), 'espantoso' (appalling/frightening), 'desastroso' (disastrous), 'fatal' (awful - colloquial), or 'pésimo' (abysmal/the worst) depending on the exact context.
Test Yourself 200 questions
Write a simple sentence saying the food is terrible.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Practice basic predicative use.
Practice basic predicative use.
Write a sentence saying you have a terrible headache (dolor de cabeza).
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Practice collocation.
Practice collocation.
Write a sentence describing the weather today as terrible.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Practice using estar with terrible.
Practice using estar with terrible.
Write an exclamation reacting to bad news using terrible.
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Practice '¡Qué terrible!'.
Practice '¡Qué terrible!'.
Write a sentence saying yesterday was a terrible day.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Practice past tense.
Practice past tense.
Write a sentence saying the shoes (zapatos) are terrible.
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Practice plural agreement.
Practice plural agreement.
Write a sentence using 'sentirse' (to feel) and terrible.
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Practice expressing emotions.
Practice expressing emotions.
Write a sentence placing 'terrible' before the noun 'error'.
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Practice pre-nominal placement.
Practice pre-nominal placement.
Write a sentence using the adverb 'terriblemente'.
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Practice adverb usage.
Practice adverb usage.
Write a sentence using the synonym 'pésimo'.
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Practice vocabulary expansion.
Practice vocabulary expansion.
Write a sentence describing a terrible traffic jam (tráfico).
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Practice everyday context.
Practice everyday context.
Write a sentence using the idiom 'tener un hambre terrible'.
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Practice hyperbolic idioms.
Practice hyperbolic idioms.
Write a sentence describing a terrible movie you saw.
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Practice past tense evaluation.
Practice past tense evaluation.
Write a sentence using 'ser terrible que' + subjunctive.
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Practice complex grammar.
Practice complex grammar.
Write a sentence describing a terrible consequence of pollution.
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Practice academic/formal context.
Practice academic/formal context.
Write a sentence using the synonym 'espantoso'.
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Practice advanced synonyms.
Practice advanced synonyms.
Write a sentence using 'terrible' to describe an abstract concept (like irony or silence).
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Practice literary usage.
Practice literary usage.
Write a sentence using the phrase 'un niño terrible'.
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Practice idiomatic phrases.
Practice idiomatic phrases.
Write a sentence using 'terrible' as an oxymoron (e.g., terrible beauty).
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Practice poetic/literary devices.
Practice poetic/literary devices.
Write a formal sentence critiquing a terrible political decision.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Practice high-register critique.
Practice high-register critique.
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Practice basic pronunciation.
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Practice collocation pronunciation.
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Practice intonation for exclamations.
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Practice plural pronunciation.
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Practice pre-nominal rhythm.
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Practice adverb pronunciation.
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Practice using a synonym.
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Practice abstract noun collocation.
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Practice colloquial hyperbole.
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Practice formal register pronunciation.
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Practice idiomatic phrasing.
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Practice literary phrasing.
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Practice conversational response.
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Practice everyday conversation.
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Practice expressing feelings.
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Practice giving opinions.
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Practice advanced vocabulary.
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Practice colloquial vocabulary.
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Phonetic practice.
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Phonetic practice for longer words.
What is terrible?
Basic listening comprehension.
Where is the pain?
Listening for specific details.
What kind of news is it?
Identifying exclamations.
Where was the terrible day?
Listening for context.
What word is used as a synonym for terrible here?
Identifying synonyms in speech.
What seems terrible to the speaker?
Understanding opinions.
Whose mistake was it?
Understanding pre-nominal usage.
Is the person scared?
Understanding hyperbole.
What is the economic situation like?
Understanding formal contexts.
Did they pass easily?
Understanding idioms.
What was the silence like?
Understanding literary language.
Is he a literal child?
Understanding cultural idioms.
How grave will the consequences be?
Understanding adverbs.
In this specific slang context, does it mean bad?
Understanding regional slang.
What kind of pain is it?
Identifying advanced synonyms.
Terrible is gender-neutral; it never ends in 'a'.
Must add 's' for plural nouns.
False friend error; terrible means bad, not terrific.
Use estar for temporary weather conditions.
Post-nominal is standard for objective physical descriptions.
Must use the adverb form 'terriblemente' to modify an adjective.
Adjective must agree in number; 'error' is singular.
The correct exclamatory word is 'Qué', not 'Cómo'.
With 'sentirse', use the adjective form to describe your state.
Terrible never ends in 'o', even for masculine nouns.
/ 200 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
'Terrible' is a powerful, gender-neutral adjective used to describe extremely bad situations, poor quality, or intense pain. Example: 'Tengo un dolor terrible' (I have a terrible pain).
- Means extremely bad or awful.
- Does not change for masculine/feminine.
- Adds an 's' for plural (terribles).
- Often used to exaggerate minor annoyances.
Gender Neutrality
Adjectives ending in '-e' like 'terrible' do not change for masculine or feminine nouns. It's always 'el niño terrible' and 'la niña terrible'.
Roll the RR
Make sure to strongly trill the 'rr' in the middle of the word. A weak English 'r' will make you sound like a beginner.
Beware the False Friend
Never use 'terrible' to mean 'terrific' or 'great'. It is strictly a negative word in Spanish.
Placement for Drama
Put 'terrible' before the noun (un terrible error) when you want to sound more emotional, dramatic, or subjective.
Related Content
This Word in Other Languages
Related Phrases
More general words
a causa de
A2For the reason of; owing to.
a condición de que
B2On condition that, provided that, or given that.
a dónde
A1To what place or destination?
a lo mejor
A2Maybe; perhaps.
a menos que
B1Unless.
a no ser que
B2Unless; should it not be that.
a pesar de
B1In spite of; despite.
a_pesar_de
B2In spite of; notwithstanding; despite.
a propósito
B2By the way, on purpose; incidentally; or intentionally.
a raíz de
B2As a result of; following directly from.