Adjective
/ˈtɛr.ə.bəl/
The word "terrible" is primarily used as an adjective to describe something that is extremely bad or unpleasant. It can refer to a variety of contexts, from experiences, events, to physical conditions. In English, "terrible" can convey strong negative connotations and is commonly used in both oral and written contexts, although it might be slightly more frequent in spoken language due to its expressive nature.
"Terrible" is a frequently used word in conversational English, as well as in written forms such as articles, essays, and narratives. Its universality in expressing discontent makes it a common choice.
The weather was terrible during our vacation.
El clima fue terrible durante nuestras vacaciones.
She had a terrible headache all day.
Ella tuvo un terrible dolor de cabeza todo el día.
His performance in the play was terrible compared to the others.
Su actuación en la obra fue terrible en comparación con los demás.
"Terrible" is often used in several idiomatic expressions that reflect strong emotions or situations:
The terrible toll of the accident was felt in the entire community.
El terrible costo del accidente se sintió en toda la comunidad.
Terrible fate: Discussing an unfortunate or disastrous outcome.
Many believe that he met a terrible fate at sea.
Muchos creen que encontró un terrible destino en el mar.
Terrible mistake: Referring to a significant error or wrongdoing.
It was a terrible mistake to ignore the warning signs.
Fue un terrible error ignorar las señales de advertencia.
Terrible ordeal: Indicating a distressing or challenging experience.
He made a terrible mistake by not studying for the exam.
Cometió un terrible error al no estudiar para el examen.
The terrible toll of the disease is evident in the number of affected families.
El terrible costo de la enfermedad es evidente en la cantidad de familias afectadas.
After the terrible ordeal, they were finally rescued.
Después de la terrible odisea, finalmente fueron rescatados.
The word "terrible" comes from the Latin root "terribilis," which means "frightening" or "dreadful." The prefix “terr-” relates to terror or great fear. The term evolved into Middle English as "terribil" before becoming the modern "terrible."