improbable (spanish) - meaning, definition, translation, pronunciation

Part of Speech

Adjective

Phonetic Transcription

/im.pɾoˈβla/

Translation Options into English

• Improbable
• Unlikely

Meaning and Usage

The word "improbable" in Spanish means something that is not likely to happen or is unlikely. It is frequently used in both spoken and written contexts, particularly in discussions involving predictions, probabilities, or theoretical scenarios.

• Frequency of Use: It is commonly used in both spoken language and formal written language, especially in literary or scientific contexts.
• Context: The term could be encountered in general conversation, articles, or reports discussing events or outcomes that lack a strong chance of occurring.

Example Sentences

1. Es improbable que llueva mañana.

2. It is unlikely to rain tomorrow.

3. La teoría es interesante, pero sus premisas son improbables.

4. The theory is interesting, but its premises are improbable.

5. Es improbable que ganen el partido con ese rendimiento.

6. It is unlikely that they will win the match with that performance.

Idiomatic Expressions

The word "improbable" is often utilized in idiomatic expressions within Spanish, primarily to indicate low likelihood or doubt about a situation. Here are some idiomatic usages:

1. Es más improbable que un perro vuele.
2. It's more unlikely than a dog flying.

3. Meaning: Something is extremely unlikely to occur.

4. Un improbable suceso.

5. An unlikely event.

6. Meaning: Refers to an event that has little chance of happening.

7. No hay nada improbable en que ocurra.

8. There is nothing unlikely about it happening.

9. Meaning: Suggests that something could indeed happen, contrary to beliefs.

10. Es improbable que se dé esa situación.

11. It is unlikely that situation will occur.

12. Refers to a specific scenario being very unlikely.

13. Lo improbable a veces resulta ser cierto.

14. The improbable sometimes turns out to be true.
15. Suggests that unlikely events can indeed happen.

Etymology

The word "improbable" originates from the Latin "improbabilis," which is a combination of the prefix "in-" (meaning "not") and "probabilis" (meaning "provable" or "likely"). The components reflect the concept of something that cannot be proven or deemed likely.

Synonyms and Antonyms

• Synonyms: poco probable, dudosamente probable, incierto
• Antonyms: probable, cierto, seguro

In summary, "improbable" encompasses a rich set of meanings and usage scenarios that make it a significant term for expressing uncertainty and the low likelihood of events, with various idiomatic expressions reinforcing its contextual flexibility in both spoken and written Spanish.