Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| apestoso | /apesˈtoso/ | |
| hediondo | /eˈdjondo/ | |
| fétido | /ˈfetido/ | |
| maloliente | /maloˈljente/ | |
| jediondo | /xeˈdjondo/ | alternative form |
All these terms describe something having a strong, unpleasant smell.
Which one should you use?
apestoso is the common way to say something is stinky or gross. In contrast, maloliente is a more neutral, clinical or descriptive term for something that simply has a bad odor. For a more intense or literary sense of a foul or decaying smell, use the formal term fétido. Hediondo is a formal option used to convey a more intense sense of stinkiness than the standard apestoso.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
apestoso is the standard, common choice. fétido and hediondo are more formal and are often found in literary, medical or intense contexts. maloliente is a neutral, descriptive term. For a colloquial or sometimes vulgar emphasis on a particularly offensive stench, you can use jediondo.
How does it change in a sentence?
As an adjective, the form must agree in gender and number with the noun it describes. For example, use the feminine form apestosa for feminine nouns like la basura and the masculine plural form apestosos for masculine plural nouns like los calcetines.
How do you pronounce it?
/apesˈtoso/
Did you know?
- The adjective apestoso is built from the root of peste, a word that refers to the infamous Black Death plague.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, calling someone apestoso can be a much stronger personal insult than simply saying they 'stink' in English.
- While apestoso describes a smell, the verb apestar is often used colloquially to mean that something is 'stinking' of a particular quality, like 'stinking of money'.
Examples in context
- Es un gato apestoso.He's a stinky cat.This sentence shows how to describe a cat using apestoso.Tatoeba #10275013 by Seael, translation #10240031 by shekitten
- El sótano es feo, oscuro y apestoso.The cellar is ugly, dark, and stinky.This sentence shows how to describe a cellar using apestoso.Tatoeba #1332046 by hayastan, translation #277069 by CK
- Es realmente apestoso.It's really stinky.This sentence shows how to use apestoso to emphasize that something is really stinky.Tatoeba #1241334 by marcelostockle, translation #265055 by CK
- El queso apestosoThe stinky cheese
- Esos zapatos están apestosos.Those shoes are stinky.
- El baño está hediondo.The bathroom is stinky.
- ¡Qué hediondo está este pescado!This fish is so stinky!
- Estos calcetines son pestilentes.These socks are stinky.
- El perro después de correr está pestilente.The dog is stinky after running.
- Esos pañales están malolientes.Those diapers are stinky.
- ¡No te acerques tanto, tienes mal aliento! ¡Qué maloliente!Don't get too close, you have bad breath! How stinky!
Example conversation
Elena and Daniel are cleaning the kitchen together.
- ElenaTira ese trapo, está muy apestoso.Throw away that rag, it's very stinky.
- DanielTienes razón, huele fatal.You're right, it smells terrible.
- Elena¿Dónde está el cubo de basura?Where is the trash can?
- DanielEstá aquí, Daniel lo vació ayer.It's here, Daniel emptied it yesterday.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “stinky” translations and entries apestoso, hediondo, fétido, maloliente, jediondo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries apestoso, fétido, hediondo, maloliente, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
