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bochornoso

sweltering

adjective boh-chohr-NOH-soh Rare
Descriptions & Qualities Conditions

Also means

shameful, embarrassing

Usage Note

Bochornoso has two distinct registers. Meteorologically it describes hot, muggy, oppressive weather: un día bochornoso (a sweltering day). Socially it means embarrassing or shameful — una situación bochornosa (an embarrassing situation). The root bochorno covers both senses: the suffocating heat of a summer afternoon and the flush of embarrassment. Learners should read context carefully, as the two meanings are quite different.

Examples

"El calor bochornoso impedía dormir."

Natural Translation

The sweltering heat made it impossible to sleep.

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