monstruo marino
/monstɾwo maɾino/from spelling rulesmasculine
The English phrase "sea monster" is translated into Spanish as monstruo marino.
A monstruo marino refers to a large, aggressive creature in the sea.
Meaning: large, aggressive creature in the sea (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of monstruo (monster) and marino (marine/of the sea).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, monstruo marítimo is frequently used to refer to sea monsters.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the phrase plural, both the noun and the adjective must take the plural suffix -s, resulting in monstruos marinos.
How do you pronounce it?
/monstɾwo maɾino/
Did you know?
- The word monstruo is derived from the Latin mōnstrum, which originally referred to a divine omen or a sign from the gods, rather than just a physical beast.
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, if you call a person a monstruo, you are likely praising their incredible skill rather than insulting them.
- The word marino also functions as a noun to describe a sailor or a member of the navy. This means a sentence could technically describe a 'marine' person without referring to the ocean itself.
Examples in context
- Me encanta leer acerca de los monstruos marinos y sus historias legendarias.I love reading about sea monsters and their legendary stories.
- El monstruo marino atacó el barco.The sea monster attacked the ship.
- Vimos un monstruo marino en la película.We saw a sea monster in the movie.
- Creen que el monstruo marino es real.They believe the sea monster is real.
Example conversation
Daniel and Sofía are talking about a legend.
- DanielSofía, ¿crees en el monstruo marino?Sofía, do you believe in the sea monster?
- SofíaSí, Daniel, creo que vive aquí.Yes, Daniel, I think it lives here.
- Daniel¡Eso me da mucho miedo!That scares me a lot!
- SofíaSolo es una historia vieja.It is just an old story.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sea monster” translations, 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 marino, monstruo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
