pesadillas
/pesadiʝas/from spelling rules
The English word "nightmares" is translated into Spanish as pesadillas.
Pesadillas refers to frightening or disturbing dreams that occur during sleep. To express the experience of having nightmares, you use the verb tener (to have), following the same pattern as in English: tener pesadillas.
What does it mean word for word?
The word is derived from the singular form pesadilla, which comes from pesado, meaning "heavy". This suggests the concept of a dream that feels heavy or burdensome.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In parts of Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, it is common to use malos sueños to mean "bad dreams" in both formal and informal contexts.
How does it change in a sentence?
The singular form of the word is pesadilla.
How do you pronounce it?
/pesadiʝas/
Did you know?
- The concept of a 'nightmare' in Spanish is conceptually linked to the feeling of weight. This mirrors the ancient English belief in the 'mare', a demon that sat on a sleeper's chest to make them feel heavy.
- While pesadilla refers to a nightmare, the word pesado can also be used to describe a person who is annoying or tedious. This means you might call a boring person 'heavy' using the same root word.
- In Spanish, the word pesadilla can be used figuratively to describe a real-life situation that is an absolute disaster. For example, a terrible commute or a chaotic day at work is often called una pesadilla.
Examples in context
- Las pesadillas dan miedo.Nightmares are scary.This sentence shows how to describe the quality of pesadillas.Tatoeba #5057074 by don_ramon, translation #1907917 by Spamster
- A menudo tengo pesadillas.I often have nightmares.This sentence is useful for saying that you frequently experience pesadillas.Tatoeba #541342 by Shishir, translation #428054 by witbrock
- No voy a tener pesadillas.I'm not going to have nightmares.This sentence is useful for stating that you will not experience pesadillas.Tatoeba #5017089 by don_ramon, translation #13650841 by araneo
- He tenido varias pesadillas esta semanaI have had several nightmares this week
- Sufro de malos sueños con frecuenciaI often suffer from nightmares
- Mi hijo sufre de terrores nocturnosMy child suffers from night terrors
- Ayer tuve unas cosas de miedo mientras dormíaYesterday I had some scary things while I was sleeping
- Tengo pesadillas recurrentesI have recurrent nightmares
- Vaya cosa de miedo tuve anoche en un sueñoI had such a scary thing in a dream last night
- 23 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucía and Alejandro are talking in bed before sleeping.
- Lucía¿Tienes pesadillas con frecuencia, Alejandro?Do you have nightmares frequently, Alejandro?
- AlejandroNo, pero ayer tuve unas pesadillas horribles.No, but yesterday I had some horrible nightmares.
- LucíaLo siento mucho, espero que descanses.I am very sorry, I hope you rest.
- AlejandroGracias, Lucía. Buenas noches.Thanks, Lucía. Good night.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
