hombre aterrador
/ombɾe ateradoɾ/from spelling rules
The English phrase "scary man" is translated into Spanish as hombre aterrador.
This phrase refers to a man who causes others to feel fear or alarm.
Which one should you use?
While hombre aterrador describes a man who is inherently frightening or causes terror, the phrase hombre que da miedo is a more common way to say "a man who is scary" in everyday conversation.
How do you pronounce it?
/ombɾe ateradoɾ/
Did you know?
- In Spanish culture, the concept of a 'scary man' is often linked to the El Coco or Cuco folklore, a bogeyman used by parents to encourage children to behave or sleep.
- The word hombre shares a distant ancestral root with the English word 'earthling', stemming from a Proto-Indo-European term for 'earth'.
- While hombre aterrador is grammatically correct, if you use it in a casual setting, people might think you are describing a man who is literally 'terrifying' in a cinematic or supernatural sense rather than just 'scary'.
Examples in context
- El hombre que vimos en el bosque era realmente aterrador.The man we saw in the forest was truly scary.
- No quiero acercarme a ese hombre aterrador.I do not want to go near that scary man.
- Vimos a un hombre aterrador en el callejón.We saw a scary man in the alley.
Example conversation
María and Javier are walking home late at night.
- María¿Viste a ese hombre aterrador allá?Did you see that scary man over there?
- JavierSí, parece alguien peligroso.Yes, he looks like someone dangerous.
- MaríaTengo mucho miedo de él.I am very afraid of him.
- JavierNo te preocupes, María, yo te protejo.Do not worry, María, I will protect you.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries aterrador, hombre, CC BY-SA 4.0.
