Portuguese · Emotions & Descriptions
"Terrible" in Portuguese: terrível
terrível
Note: also: horrível
Terrible in Portuguese is terrível. Brazilians also say horrível for strong dislike. Que terrível! reacts to bad news.
After a storm delay
O trânsito hoje está terrível.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce terrível
Say it
teh-HEE-vehl
/te.ˈʁi.vew/
teh-HEE-vehl
"Terrible" in Portuguese: quick reference
| Portuguese | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| terrível | terrible Default adjective. | Default adjective. |
| que terrível! | how terrible! Reaction to news. | Reaction to news. |
| horrível | horrible Entry note alternative. | Entry note alternative. |
| foi terrível | it was terrible After a bad experience. | After a bad experience. |
How to use terrível in real life
- 1After a storm delay
O trânsito hoje está terrível.
Traffic today is terrible.
Daily complaint.
- 2Movie talk
O final do filme foi terrível de tão previsível.
The movie ending was terribly predictable.
Opinion.
- 3Hearing bad news
Que terrível… ela está bem agora?
How terrible… is she okay now?
Empathy reaction.
Mistakes English speakers make with terrível
Incorrect: Foi terrible.
Correct: Foi terrível.
Portuguese spelling is terrível.
Incorrect: Uma noite terrivel (missing accent).
Correct: Uma noite terrível.
Keep the accent: terrível.
Good to know
Terrível and horrível both vent frustration in Brazil. For mild annoyance people often prefer ruim or péssimo before jumping to terrível.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Complaining about a delayed flight
ChatPal
Esse atraso está terrível.
This delay is terrible.
You
Terrível mesmo. Já são três horas.
Terrible indeed. It's already three hours.
ChatPal
A comida do aeroporto também está terrível.
The airport food is terrible too.
You
Vamos achar um café melhor.
Let's find a better café.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Terrible" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Terrible" in Portuguese
Terrível or horrível?
Both work; terrível is the headword.
Gender change?
No—terrível stays the same.
Milder than terrível?
Ruim or chato.
How do I react to bad news?
Que terrível!
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
