Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say "Disgusting" in Spanish
Asqueroso · adjective · ahs-keh-ROH-soh
Asqueroso is the go-to Spanish adjective for "disgusting," "gross," or "revolting." Related to the noun asco (disgust), it can describe anything from spoiled food to reprehensible behavior.
ahs-keh-ROH-soh (four syllables, stress on the third)
¡Qué asqueroso! Hay una cucaracha en la sopa.
How disgusting! There's a cockroach in the soup.
Disgusting in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for disgusting, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| asqueroso | disgusting | ahs-keh-ROH-soh | Default, widely understood |
| repugnante | disgusting | stronger intensity, all regions | |
| repulsivo | disgusting | formal or literary tone | |
| asco | disgusting | noun form meaning 'disgust' |
How Native Speakers Use Asqueroso
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Reacting to food
La leche huele asquerosa; creo que está echada a perder.
The milk smells disgusting; I think it's gone bad.
Asquerosa agrees with the feminine noun leche.
Describing behavior
Lo que hizo fue asqueroso; no tiene perdón.
What he did was disgusting; it's unforgivable.
Asqueroso can describe morally reprehensible actions, not just physical revulsion.
Using the noun form
Me da mucho asco ver insectos en la comida.
It really disgusts me to see insects in the food.
Dar asco is the verb phrase meaning 'to disgust' or 'to make someone feel sick.'
Informal exclamation
¡Qué asco! No voy a comer eso.
How gross! I'm not going to eat that.
¡Qué asco! is the most common exclamation of disgust in everyday Spanish.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Asqueroso
Using disgustante as a translation
Incorrect: La situación es disgustante.
Correct: La situación es asquerosa.
Disgustante is not standard Spanish. The word disgustar exists but means 'to upset' or 'to displease,' not 'to disgust.' Use asqueroso or repugnante instead.
Forgetting gender agreement
Incorrect: La comida está asqueroso.
Correct: La comida está asquerosa.
Asqueroso must agree with the noun it modifies. Comida is feminine, so the adjective becomes asquerosa.
Lock in Disgusting Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.
See Asqueroso used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using asqueroso in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear ¡Qué asqueroso! Hay una cucaracha en la sopa. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
Save, review, repeat, stay consistent
Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.
Common Questions About Disgusting in Spanish
- What is the difference between "asqueroso" and "repugnante"?
- Both mean disgusting, but repugnante tends to be stronger and slightly more formal. Asqueroso is the everyday word most Spanish speakers reach for first, while repugnante adds dramatic weight.
- Is "disgustar" a false cognate?
- Partially. Disgustar does exist in Spanish, but it means 'to upset' or 'to displease'—not 'to disgust.' If you want to say something disgusts you, use dar asco: me da asco.
- How do you say "that's so gross" in casual Spanish?
- The most natural phrasing is ¡Qué asco! You can also say ¡Es asqueroso! or ¡Qué asquerosidad! for extra emphasis, though the last one is colloquial.