bastante feo
/bastante feo/from spelling rules
The English phrase "pretty ugly" is translated into Spanish as bastante feo.
The phrase is used to describe something that is quite unattractive.
What does it mean word for word?
The expression is composed of bastante, meaning quite or enough and feo, meaning ugly.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, the expression fea como el pecado is used to describe something as "ugly as sin" or "pretty ugly".
How does it change in a sentence?
For a feminine noun, use bastante fea. For multiple masculine or mixed-gender nouns, use bastante feos. For multiple feminine nouns, use bastante feas.
How do you pronounce it?
/bastante feo/
Did you know?
- The word bastante traces its ancient roots back to the Ancient Greek word bastázō, which refers to carrying or lifting.
- The word feo may have replaced a native Spanish word, hedo, which originally described a bad smell or stench.
- In Spanish, bastante can function as both an adverb meaning 'quite' and an adjective meaning 'sufficient'.
Examples in context
- La pintura en la pared es bastante fea.The painting on the wall is pretty ugly.
- ¡Esa casa es fea como el pecado!That house is pretty ugly!
- Ese coche es bastante feo.That car is pretty ugly.
- Las casas son bastante feas.The houses are pretty ugly.
- Ese dibujo es bastante feo.That drawing is pretty ugly.
- El color de la pared es bastante feo.The color of the wall is quite ugly.
- Es un edificio bastante feo.It is a pretty ugly building.
Example conversation
Sofía and Alejandro are looking at a piece of old furniture.
- SofíaMira este sofá, es bastante feo.Look at this sofa, it is pretty ugly.
- AlejandroTienes razón, no me gusta nada.You are right, I don't like it at all.
- Sofía¿Crees que podemos arreglarlo?Do you think we can fix it?
- AlejandroNo, es demasiado feo para salvarlo.No, it's too ugly to save.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bastante, feo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
