What does it mean word for word?
The word muy means "very" and aterrador is the adjective meaning "scary" or "terrifying".
Which one should you use?
While muy aterrador is a direct translation, other forms can convey different nuances of fear. For example, da pavor is used for something that is really scary and da escalofríos is used for something that gives chills or sends shivers down your spine.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, you can use espantosísimo to mean very scary. In Spain, de miedo is used for very scary and terrorífico can also be used to mean very scary.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective aterrador must agree in gender and number with the noun it describes. It changes to muy aterradora for feminine singular nouns, muy aterradores for masculine plural nouns and muy aterradoras for feminine plural nouns.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using muy miedoso to describe a scary object. While muy aterrador describes something that causes fear, miedoso describes a person who is prone to feeling fear, such as being fearful or cowardly.
Did you know?
- In Spain, the phrase de miedo is used for 'very scary', but it can also be used as slang to mean 'great' or 'cool'.
- In Mexico, the word espantosísimo uses a superlative suffix to emphasize that something is not just scary, but extremely terrifying.
- The word muy actually comes from the Latin word 'multum', which means 'much' or 'many'.
Examples in context
- La película era muy aterradoraThe movie was very scary
- Las historias del libro eran muy espeluznantesThe stories in the book were very scary
- El lugar abandonado era muy terroríficoThe abandoned place was very scary
- La montaña rusa fue de miedoThe roller coaster was scary
- La idea de estar solo en esa casa vieja me da escalofríosThe idea of being alone in that old house gives me chills
- Esa película da pavorThat movie is really scary
- El ruido fue muy aterrador.The noise was very scary.
- Ese cuento es muy aterrador.That story is very scary.
Example conversation
Javier and María are talking about a movie they watched.
- JavierLa película de ayer fue muy aterradora.Yesterday's movie was very scary.
- MaríaSí, yo no podía cerrar los ojos.Yes, I couldn't close my eyes.
- JavierLa música también era muy aterradora.The music was also very scary.
- MaríaNo quiero ver otra película así.I don't want to see another movie like that.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries aterrador, muy, CC BY-SA 4.0.
