pesadilla

nightmare

noun peh-sah-DEE-yah Rare

Usage Note

Pesadilla is the standard word for a bad dream, from pesar ('to weigh', 'to burden') — literally a 'little heavy thing'. Figuratively, any situation that is very difficult or distressing can be called a pesadilla: el tráfico fue una pesadilla ('the traffic was a nightmare'). It is always feminine. The adjective pesado ('heavy', 'tedious') shares the root but has no direct nightmare connotation on its own.

Examples

"Tuve una pesadilla y no pude dormir bien."

Natural Translation

I had a nightmare and couldn't sleep well.

Free starter pack

Building your Spanish vocabulary?

Get the 100 most common Spanish words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.

Related Words

Explore Spanish by topic

SpanishNow

Spanish Accent Marks: 3 Rules for Every Word

A Spanish word needs an accent mark in just three cases: it breaks the default stress, it's a homophone, or a weak vowel splits off. Here are all three rules.

June 3, 2026 6 min read

SpanishNow

Ser vs. Estar: When to Use Each in Spanish

Ser vs estar made simple: how you feel and where you are use estar, everything else uses ser. Master the rule, the exceptions, and the traps that flip meaning.

June 3, 2026 6 min read

SpanishNow

Spanish Object Pronouns: Lo, La, Le & Se Made Simple

Use lo/la for the direct object and le for the indirect — and le becomes se before lo/la. Master Spanish object pronouns with one simple verb test.

June 9, 2026 6 min read

SpanishNow

Spanish Reflexive Verbs: Me, Te, Se Made Clear

Spanish reflexive verbs use me, te, se for actions you do to yourself. Master the daily-routine pattern, pronoun placement, and shifts like dormir vs dormirse.

June 9, 2026 6 min read