ventisca
/benˈtiska/feminine
The English phrase "blizzard" can be translated into Spanish as ventisca. Wiktionary also lists tempestad de nieve and tormenta nival.
Meaning: severe snowstorm (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ventisca | /benˈtiska/ | feminine |
| tempestad de nieve | /tempestad de njebe/ (from spelling rules) | feminine |
| tormenta nival | /toɾmenta nibal/ (from spelling rules) | feminine |
| tormenta nívea | /toɾmenta nibea/ (from spelling rules) | feminine |
All provided forms are feminine nouns used to describe a severe snowstorm.
Which one should you use?
You may also encounter tempestad de nieve, tormenta nival and tormenta nívea.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural of ventisca is ventiscas.
How do you pronounce it?
/benˈtiska/
Did you know?
- Although we use 'storm' to describe weather, the Spanish word tormenta shares an etymological root with the English word 'torment', originally referring to instruments of torture.
- In some Spanish-speaking regions, the word ventisca is used to describe a severe windstorm even if there is no snow falling.
Examples in context
- El invierno pasado hubo una fuerte ventisca que nos obligó a quedarnos en casa.Last winter, there was a strong blizzard that forced us to stay at home.
- Ayer tuvimos una tremenda tormenta de nieve en el pueblo.Yesterday we had a tremendous blizzard in the town.
- La ventisca cubrió toda la carretera.The blizzard covered the entire road.
- No podemos salir por la ventisca.We cannot go out because of the blizzard.
- Una fuerte ventisca se acerca a la ciudad.A strong blizzard is approaching the city.
Example conversation
Daniel and Sofía are looking out the window at a storm.
- DanielMira qué fuerte es la ventisca, Sofía.Look how strong the blizzard is, Sofía.
- SofíaEs terrible, Daniel, no se ve nada.It is terrible, Daniel, you can't see anything.
- DanielDebemos quedarnos en casa hoy.We must stay at home today.
- SofíaTienes razón, es muy peligroso.You are right, it is very dangerous.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “blizzard” translations and entries ventisca, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries de, nieve, tempestad, tormenta, ventisca, CC BY-SA 4.0.
