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morbo

morbid fascination

noun MOHR-boh Rare

Origin: Latin morbus (disease)

Also means

disease (archaic)

Usage Note

Morbo in modern colloquial Spanish means a morbid curiosity or dark attraction — me da morbo ('it gives me a weird thrill'). In a clinical or archaic register it means 'disease'. The adjective morboso means 'morbid'. This colloquial usage is particularly common in Spain and may sound odd in Latin America.

Examples

"Le da morbo leer noticias de crímenes."

Natural Translation

Reading crime news gives her a morbid thrill.

Literal Translation

To-her gives morbo reading news of crimes.

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