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pétreo

stony

adjective PEH-treh-oh Rare
Descriptions & Qualities Textures

Origin: Latin petreus, from Greek petra (rock, stone).

Also means

stone-like, petrified

Usage Note

Pétreo is a literary or formal adjective meaning 'of or resembling stone' — suelo pétreo (stony ground), expresión pétrea (stony expression, showing no emotion). It is rarely used in everyday speech, where de piedra is preferred. The figurative sense of an emotionless, cold face or attitude (mirada pétrea) is quite common in literary prose and journalism. The stress on the first syllable (PEH-treh-oh) makes it a proparoxytone (esdrújula).

Examples

"Avanzó con expresión pétrea y sin decir nada."

Natural Translation

He advanced with a stony expression and saying nothing.

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