aterrador
/ateraˈdoɾ/
The English word 'terrifying' is translated into Spanish as aterrador. Wiktionary also lists terrorífico and aterrorizante.
Meaning: frightening or intimidating (adj)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| aterrador | /ateraˈdoɾ/ |
| terrorífico | /teroˈɾifiko/ |
| aterrorizante | /ateroɾiˈθante/ /ateroɾiˈsante/ |
| terrífico | /teˈrifiko/ |
All forms listed, aterrador, terrorífico, aterrorizante and terrífico, describe something that is frightening or intimidating.
Which one should you use?
While aterrador and terrorífico both mean terrifying, aterrador is more common in standard modern Spanish for describing something that causes intense fear.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some Latin American countries, you may hear the word atemorizante used to mean 'terrifying'. In Spain, pavoroso/a is an alternative used to mean 'terrifying' or 'dreadful'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective aterrador must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. It changes to aterradora for feminine nouns and to aterradores for masculine plural nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/ateraˈdoɾ/
Did you know?
- The Spanish word terrífico is a rare example of a 'false friend' that looks almost identical to the English word 'terrific'.
- The term aterrorizante contains a linguistic fossil from Ancient Greek, the suffix -ῐ́ζω, which traveled through Late Latin and Old Spanish to reach its modern form.
Examples in context
- Esto es absolutamente aterrador.This is absolutely terrifying.This sentence is useful for stating that something is absolutely terrifying using aterrador.Tatoeba #10911325 by Eremon, translation #5591025 by Hybrid
- Nada más aterrador que las movilizaciones armadas.There's nothing more terrifying than armed mobilizations.This sentence is useful for comparing armed mobilizations to something terrifying using aterrador.Tatoeba #4363921 by umano, translation #12228317 by Miktsoanit
- El aterrador monstruo me miró con sus ojos de fuego.The terrifying monster looked at me with its fiery eyes.This sentence is useful for describing a monster as terrifying using aterrador.Tatoeba #1585406 by Shishir, translation #10465309 by DJ_Saidez
- La película fue terrorífica.The movie was terrifying.
- El espectáculo de terror fue terrorífico.The horror show was terrifying.
- ¡Las escenas de la película fueron aterrorizantes!The movie scenes were terrifying!
- Ese lugar abandonado es aterrorizante de noche.That abandoned place is terrifying at night.
- El monstruo era horroroso.The monster was terrifying.
- ¡Qué pesadilla tan horrorosa tuve anoche!What a terrifying nightmare I had last night!
- Me da miedo salir de noche por el bosque. ¡Es pavoroso!I'm scared to go out at night in the forest. It's terrifying!
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Elena and Mateo are talking about a scary movie they just watched.
- ElenaEsa película fue realmente aterradora.That movie was really terrifying.
- MateoSí, yo no pude dormir anoche.Yes, I couldn't sleep last night.
- ElenaEl final fue lo más aterrador de todo.The ending was the most terrifying part of all.
- MateoTienes razón, Elena. Fue impactante.You are right, Elena. It was shocking.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “terrifying” translations and entries aterrador, terrorífico, aterrorizante, terrífico, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries aterrador, aterrorizante, terrorífico, terrífico, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
