feo
/ˈfeo/
feo is the Spanish word for ugly.
feo is primarily used to describe something that is displeasing to the eye or not aesthetically pleasing. Beyond physical appearance, it can also be used metaphorically to describe an unpleasant situation or an ugly truth.
Meaning: displeasing to the eye, not aesthetically pleasing (adj)
Which one should you use?
feo is the direct antonym of bonito (pretty) or guapo (handsome/good-looking).
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective must agree in gender and number with the noun it describes. Use feo for masculine singular nouns, fea for feminine singular nouns, feos for masculine or mixed-gender plural nouns and feas for feminine plural nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈfeo/
Did you know?
- Spanish speakers may use feo to describe a bad smell or a disgusting taste, extending the word beyond sight to other senses.
- The phrase ponerse feo can be used to describe a situation that is turning violent or dangerous, rather than something becoming visually unattractive.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, calling a person feo to their face is much more aggressive and insulting than it sounds in English, where 'ugly' can sometimes be used playfully.
Examples in context
- Su pelo es feo.Your hair is ugly.This sentence shows how to use feo to describe hair.Tatoeba #6795702 by arh, translation #8174342 by magnificentgoddess
- No creo que seas feo.I don't think that you're ugly.This sentence demonstrates using feo when referring to a person.Tatoeba #7927041 by arh, translation #7227578 by CK
- ¡Qué vestido tan feo!What an ugly dress!This sentence shows how to use feo to describe a dress.Tatoeba #12531901 by Shishir, translation #3426211 by CK
- María es una chica fea.María is an ugly girl.
- Su vestido es desagradable a la vista.Her dress is unpleasant to the sight.
- No te preocupes, eres mi patito feo favorito.Don't worry, you are my favorite ugly duckling.
- ¡Esa chica es horrible!That girl is ugly!
- No me cae bien, es muy antipática y fea.I don't like her, she's unfriendly and ugly.
- 63 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucía and Daniel are looking at a painting in an art gallery.
- LucíaEste cuadro es muy feo.This painting is very ugly.
- DanielNo es para tanto, Lucía.It is not that bad, Lucía.
- LucíaPara mí, el color es feo.To me, the color is ugly.
- DanielEs cuestión de gustos.It is a matter of taste.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “ugly” translations and entries feo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
