bestial

brutal

adjective bes-TYAHL Rare

Origin: From Latin bestialis, 'of a beast'.

Also means

amazing (colloquial)

Usage Note

Bestial formally means 'brutal' or 'beastly,' but in colloquial Spanish — especially in Spain — it is widely used as a strong intensifier meaning 'incredible' or 'amazing': hace un frío bestial (it is incredibly cold). This positive/hyperbolic use can confuse learners expecting only the negative sense.

Examples

"Hacía un calor bestial ese día."

Natural Translation

It was brutally hot that day.

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