Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say "Nightmare" in Spanish
Pesadilla · noun · peh-sah-DEE-yah
The Spanish word for "nightmare" is *pesadilla*, a feminine noun derived from "pesado" (heavy). It covers both literal bad dreams and the figurative sense of a horrible experience.
peh-sah-DEE-yah
Anoche tuve una pesadilla terrible.
Last night I had a terrible nightmare.
Nightmare in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for nightmare, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| pesadilla | nightmare | peh-sah-DEE-yah | Default, widely understood |
| mal sueño | nightmare | informal, colloquial alternative |
How Native Speakers Use Pesadilla
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Describing a bad dream
Mi hijo se despertó llorando por una pesadilla.
My son woke up crying because of a nightmare.
A parent describing their child's bad dream.
Figurative use
El tráfico de hoy fue una pesadilla.
Today's traffic was a nightmare.
Using "pesadilla" metaphorically for a frustrating situation.
Recurring nightmares
Tengo pesadillas desde que vi esa película de terror.
I've been having nightmares since I watched that horror movie.
Talking about repeated bad dreams caused by something scary.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Pesadilla
Gender confusion
Incorrect: Tuve un pesadillo anoche.
Correct: Tuve una pesadilla anoche.
"Pesadilla" is always feminine — use "una" and keep the -a ending. The masculine form does not exist.
Wrong verb pairing
Incorrect: Soñé una pesadilla muy fea.
Correct: Tuve una pesadilla muy fea.
In Spanish you "have" a nightmare (tener una pesadilla), not "dream" one. "Soñar" is used with the content of a dream, not with the word "pesadilla" directly.
Lock in Nightmare 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 Pesadilla used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using pesadilla in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Anoche tuve una pesadilla terrible. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
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Common Questions About Nightmare in Spanish
- Where does the word "pesadilla" come from?
- It derives from "pesado" (heavy), reflecting the old belief that nightmares felt like a heavy weight pressing on the sleeper's chest. The diminutive suffix "-illa" was added over time.
- Can "pesadilla" be used figuratively like in English?
- Spanish speakers regularly use pesadilla figuratively, saying things like "fue una pesadilla" (it was a nightmare) to describe any awful experience, just as English speakers do.
- Is "mal sueño" the same as "pesadilla"?
- "Mal sueño" literally means "bad dream" and is more casual. "Pesadilla" is the standard, universally understood term and works in both formal and informal contexts.