Pavoroso

Pavoroso is an adjective used in both Portuguese and Spanish to describe something that inspires fear, dread, or terror. It conveys a strong sense of fright or horror, often more intense than synonyms like terrible or horrible. The term is employed across contexts such as news, literature, cinema, and everyday speech to characterize events, scenes, or objects that provoke a striking emotional reaction.

Etymology and forms

The word derives from pavor, meaning fear, with the suffix -oso in both languages to indicate fullness or induce fear. In Portuguese, the masculine form is pavoroso and the feminine form is pavorosa; in Spanish, the masculine is pavoroso and the feminine is pavorosa as well. The term is versatile and can apply to people, acts, appearances, or atmospheres that are notably frightening or alarming.

Usage in Portuguese

In Portuguese, pavoroso and pavorosa describe things causing deep fear or repulsion. Examples include “uma notícia pavorosa” (dreadful news) and “uma paisagem pavorosa” (a terrifying landscape). It can also modify actions or events, as in “um crime pavoroso.”

Usage in Spanish

In Spanish, pavoroso and pavorosa similarly denote frightening or shocking aspects. Common collocations include “un espectáculo pavoroso” or “una escena pavorosa,” and “un accidente pavoroso.”

See also

Fear descriptors in Romance languages; comparative usage of pavor and -oso suffixes.