Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| asqueroso | /askeˈɾoso/ |
| repulsivo | /repulˈsibo/ |
| repugnante | /repuɡˈnante/ |
| asquiente | /askjente/ (from spelling rules) |
These terms are used to describe something that is repulsive or distasteful.
Which one should you use?
asqueroso is the most common way to describe something that causes physical nausea or is physically filthy. Although repulsivo and repugnante are synonyms, repugnante is often used to describe things that are considered morally offensive or highly offensive to the senses.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective asqueroso must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. The masculine form is asqueroso, the feminine form is asquerosa and the masculine plural form is asquerosos.
How do you pronounce it?
/askeˈɾoso/
When do people say it?
To express the reaction 'How disgusting!' or 'Gross!', Spanish speakers typically use the exclamation ¡Qué asco! rather than a direct translation of an adjective.
Did you know?
- The word asqueroso comes from a Latin root meaning 'full of scabs', which provides a much more graphic origin than the English 'disgusting'.
- Spanish has the specific verb asquear, which describes the active process of becoming disgusted, a distinction that English usually handles with 'to be disgusted'.
- Calling a person asqueroso in a social setting is often considered far more insulting than calling a thing asqueroso because it implies a lack of basic hygiene or moral filth.
Examples in context
- Este lugar es repugnante.This place is disgusting.This sentence is useful for describing a location using repugnante.Tatoeba #5015824 by albrusgher, translation #4016377 by CK
- La sola idea es repugnante.The very idea of it is disgusting.This sentence is useful for describing an idea using repugnante.Tatoeba #1342168 by marcelostockle, translation #41826 by CM
- Eso es realmente asqueroso.That's really disgusting.This sentence is useful for describing a specific thing using asqueroso.Tatoeba #5015822 by albrusgher, translation #3825319 by CK
- La comida está repugnanteThe food is disgusting
- Esa película es asquerosaThat movie is disgusting
- El olor es desagradableThe smell is disgusting
- El aspecto de esa criatura es horrorosoThe appearance of that creature is disgusting
- La comida que me sirvió dio ascoThe food they served me was disgusting
- ¡Guácalo, eso está asqueroso!Yuck, that's disgusting!
- Gloria encontró una mosca muerta en su sopa y exclamó: "Esto es repugnante".Gloria found a dead fly in her soup and exclaimed: "This is disgusting."
- Luis le mostró a María algo desagradable y ella exclamó: "¡Guácalo!"Luis showed Maria something unpleasant, and she exclaimed: "Yuck!"
- 25 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucía and Javier are inspecting a neglected park bench.
- Lucía¿Viste lo que hay en el banco?Did you see what is on the bench?
- JavierSí, es un sitio muy asqueroso.Yes, it is a very disgusting place.
- LucíaJavier, no te acerques a la basura.Javier, don't go near the trash.
- JavierNo te preocupes, Lucía, me voy.Don't worry, Lucía, I'm leaving.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “disgusting” translations and entries asqueroso, repulsivo, repugnante, 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 asqueroso, repugnante, repulsivo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
