brutal

brutal; savage

adjective broo-TAHL Rare

Also means

tremendous; extreme (colloquial)

Usage Note

Brutal is a single-form adjective with both a literal sense (savage violence) and a very common colloquial intensifier meaning something extreme or awesome — hace un calor brutal means 'it's incredibly hot'. This positive slang use is widespread in Spain and Latin America, comparable to English 'brutal' in teen slang. Stress falls on the final syllable.

Examples

"Hacía un frío brutal esa noche."

Natural Translation

It was brutally cold that night.

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