Let’s learn some useful and spooky Italian adjectives!
SPAVENTOSO
Spaventoso, from spavento (fright), is the usual adjective that describes something that causes a fright or fear. It can be translated with scary, frightful, fearsome, creepy or spooky.
| Un videogioco spaventoso | a scary videogame |
Related words:
| Lo spavento | fright |
| spaventare (qlcn) | to frighten, scare (sb) |
| spaventarsi | to get scared |
| spaventato | scared |
DA BRIVIDO / BRIVIDI
Da brivido / brividi = something that causes shudders/chills (il brivido). This expression is often used in connection with Halloween and scary stories.
| Un luogo da brividi | a chilling place |
| Storie da brividi | chilling stories |
SPETTRALE
Spettrale, from spettro (ghost), means spooky, spectral.
| Un silenzio spettrale | a spooky silence |
PAUROSO
Pauroso comes from paura (fear) and has two different and opposite meanings:
- Just like spaventoso, it denotes something that causes fear.
- It refers to a person who is always afraid: fearful.
| Un costume pauroso | a scary costume |
| Un bambino pauroso | a fearful child |
INQUIETANTE
Inquietante indicates somethig that causes worry or anguish, it means creepy, disquieting.
| Un sogno inquietante | a disquieting dream |
SINISTRO
Sinistro does not only mean left, but also ominuous, or sinister, evil.
| Un presagio sinistro | an ominous omen. |
| Una risata sinistra | a sinister laugh |
TERRIFICANTE
Terrificante means terrifying.
| Una notte terrificante | A terrifying night |
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