How to Say “Nightmare” in Mexican Spanish

By Jonathon Kym • Updated October 16, 2026

pesadilla

neutral, Mexico

The Spanish word for "nightmare" is pesadilla, and Mexicans use it the same way. You can say tuve una pesadilla for "I had a nightmare".

People also use pesadilla figuratively for any awful situation, as in el tráfico es una pesadilla.

Meaning: a frightening dream (noun)

How does it change in a sentence?

Pesadilla is feminine, so it takes una and la. The usual verb is tener: tuve una pesadilla.

Did you know?

Pesadilla comes from pesado, meaning heavy, because nightmares were once thought to press down on the sleeper.

Examples in context

Anoche tuve una pesadilla horrible.
Last night I had a horrible nightmare.
Los exámenes son mi pesadilla.
Exams are my nightmare.
¿Otra vez la misma pesadilla?
The same nightmare again?

Example conversation

Rosa tells her brother Iván about her sleep at breakfast in Puebla.

Rosa

Anoche tuve una pesadilla.
Last night I had a nightmare.
Iván

¿Qué soñaste?
What did you dream?
Rosa

Que llegaba tarde a un examen.
That I was late for an exam.

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About The Author

Jonathon Kym

Hola, I'm Jonathon, with an infectious fascination for the Mexican language and culture. My passion for words spills over into my writings, where I explore both traditional and colloquial Mexican phrases. I love distilling the essence of everyday words prised from the ordinary to the extraordinary, like 'avocado' and 'amber'. When not penning down these intriguing facets, you can find me exploring local Mexican cuisine or practicing 'Lucha Libre'. So, come and join me on this voyage into the beautiful quirks of the Mexican language. ¡Hasta la vista!

Jonathon KymHelp make this guide better. Spot a mistake, know another way to say it, or have an example from real life? Share it below.

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