iracundo

Iracundo is a Spanish adjective that describes a person who is prone to anger or a mood characterized by temper. It can refer to a habitual disposition of irritability, as in “un hombre iracundo,” or to a momentary display of anger. In some contexts, iracundo can be used as a noun to denote a person with such a temperament, though this usage is less common in everyday speech.

Etymology and origin: The term originates from Latin iracundus, meaning irascible, formed from ira, “anger,” with a suffix that yields adjectives. It entered Spanish through medieval Latin and evolved into the modern form iracundo. Related words include iracundia, the noun for temper or irascibility.

Usage and nuance: Iracundo generally signals a recurring tendency toward anger rather than a single outburst. It carries a slightly literary or formal tone and is more likely to appear in descriptive writing, criticism, or careful narration than in casual conversation. Depending on dialect, it may be used as a somewhat elevated synonym of irritado or enfadado, or as a more intense alternative to those terms.

Related terms and contrasts: Synonyms include irascible, colérico, and temperamental. Antonyms include sereno, tranquilo, and apacible. While iracundo and irascible both describe a temperament prone to anger, iracundo tends to be more commonly found in literary or formal registers in Spanish.