Learning how to say ugly in Spanish is more useful than you might think! You’ll often hear this word in songs, movies, or daily conversations. It’s not always meant to be rude — sometimes it’s just used to describe something that doesn’t look nice or is a little funny.
In this guide, you’ll learn many different ways to say “ugly” in Spanish, from polite phrases to common slang.
With examples and meanings, you’ll quickly understand how to use these words naturally in real life.
Say Ugly in Spanish
Here’s a 15-phrase table for your topic “How to Say Ugly in Spanish” — simple, clear, and helpful for learners. Each row includes the Spanish phrase, English meaning, and Example sentence for better understanding.
Here’s a 15-phrase table for How to Say Ugly in Spanish
| No. | Spanish Phrase | English Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Feo / Fea | Ugly | Ese perro es muy feo. (That dog is very ugly.) |
| 2 | Horrible | Horrible / Awful | ¡Tu dibujo está horrible! (Your drawing is horrible!) |
| 3 | Espantoso / Espantosa | Frighteningly ugly | Ese muñeco es espantoso. (That doll is frightening.) |
| 4 | Desagradable | Unpleasant | Su actitud es muy desagradable. (His attitude is very unpleasant.) |
| 5 | Asqueroso / Asquerosa | Disgusting | El lugar estaba asqueroso. (The place was disgusting.) |
| 6 | Grotesco / Grotesca | Strange-looking / Deformed | La pintura parece grotesca. (The painting looks grotesque.) |
| 7 | Chungo / Chunga | Ugly (Spain slang) | Ese peinado está chungo. (That hairstyle looks bad.) |
| 8 | Feúcho / Feúcha | A bit ugly (cute way) | El gato es feúcho pero lindo. (The cat is a bit ugly but cute.) |
| 9 | Mamarracho / Mamarracha | Ridiculous-looking person | Se vistió como un mamarracho. (He dressed like a clown.) |
| 10 | De mal aspecto | Of bad appearance | Ese edificio está de mal aspecto. (That building looks bad.) |
| 11 | Carachoso / Carachosa | Unattractive face (Central America) | Ese tipo es carachoso. (That guy has an unattractive face.) |
| 12 | Narizón / Narizona | Big-nosed | Es un poco narizón. (He’s a bit big-nosed.) |
| 13 | Deforme | Deformed / Misshapen | El muñeco se ve deforme. (The doll looks deformed.) |
| 14 | Zafio / Zafia | Tasteless / Vulgar | Qué zafio ese hombre. (That man is so vulgar.) |
| 15 | Mal arreglado / Mal arreglada | Poorly groomed | No está fea, solo mal arreglada. (She’s not ugly, just poorly groomed.) |
1. Feo / Fea – Standard word for “ugly”
Origin:
From Latin foedus, meaning “foul” or “hideous.”
Example:
👤 Persona A: ¿Qué opinas del cuadro?
👤 Persona B: La verdad… es un poco feo.
Use: Common everywhere; simple, neutral, and easy to use.
2. Horrible – Strong and emotional
Origin:
From Latin horribilis. Used for looks, behavior, or experiences.
Example:
👤 Persona A: ¿Te gustó el vestido?
👤 Persona B: ¡No! Me pareció horrible.
Use: Slightly stronger than feo; also means “terrible.”
3. Espantoso / Espantosa – Frighteningly ugly
Origin:
From espantar (to frighten).
Example:
👤 Persona A: ¿Viste ese muñeco?
👤 Persona B: ¡Sí! Era espantoso.
Use: Dramatic and exaggerative; often said jokingly.
4. Desagradable – Unpleasant or unattractive
Origin:
From agradable (pleasant) with the prefix des- (not).
Example:
👤 Persona A: Ese hombre me cayó mal.
👤 Persona B: Sí, tiene una actitud desagradable.
Use: Polite, used for personality or looks.
5. Asqueroso / Asquerosa – Disgusting or gross
Origin:
From asco (disgust).
Example:
👤 Persona A: ¿Cómo era la comida?
👤 Persona B: Asquerosa. No la volvería a probar.
Use: Strongly negative; be careful when using.
6. Grotesco / Grotesca – Exaggerated or distorted ugliness
Origin:
From Italian grottesco.
Example:
👤 Persona A: Esa estatua tiene una forma rara.
👤 Persona B: Sí, es bastante grotesca.
Use: Used in art or to describe something unnatural.
7. Chungo / Chunga – Spanish slang for “ugly”
Origin:
Popular slang in Spain.
Example:
👤 Persona A: ¿Has visto su peinado?
👤 Persona B: Sí… muy chungo.
Use: Informal, friendly slang; regional.
8. Feúcho / Feúcha – A little ugly, but cute!
Origin:
Diminutive of feo.
Example:
👤 Persona A: ¿Qué opinas del dibujo de mi hijo?
👤 Persona B: Es un poco feúcho… ¡pero tierno!
Use: Soft and playful; often affectionate.
9. Mamarracho / Mamarracha – Ridiculous-looking person
Origin:
Common in Spain and Latin America.
Example:
👤 Persona A: ¿Por qué se vistió así?
👤 Persona B: Parece un mamarracho.
Use: Humorous, but can sound rude.
10. De mal aspecto – Of bad appearance
Origin:
Neutral and descriptive phrase.
Example:
👤 Persona A: ¿Cómo era el hotel?
👤 Persona B: Viejo, sucio… de muy mal aspecto.
Use: Formal and polite alternative to feo.
11. Carachoso / Carachosa – Unattractive face (Central America)
Origin:
Used in El Salvador and Honduras.
Example:
👤 Persona A: Ese tipo es bien carachoso.
👤 Persona B: ¡Pobrecito!
Use: Slang, regional, and not polite.
12. Narizón / Narizona – Big-nosed (mocking)
Origin:
From nariz (nose).
Example:
👤 Persona A: Mira a ese niño.
👤 Persona B: ¡Qué narizón!
Use: Teasing or playful, depending on tone.
13. Deforme – Deformed or misshapen
Origin:
From forma (shape).
Example:
👤 Persona A: El maniquí era deforme.
👤 Persona B: Me dio miedo.
Use: Very negative; use carefully.
14. Zafio / Zafia – Vulgar or tasteless
Origin:
Used mainly in Spain.
Example:
👤 Persona A: Qué zafio es ese señor.
👤 Persona B: Sí, y su forma de vestir es fatal.
Use: Refers to bad manners or style more than looks.
15. Mal arreglado / Mal arreglada – Poorly groomed
Origin:
From arreglar (to fix or arrange).
Example:
👤 Persona A: No está fea, solo mal arreglada.
👤 Persona B: Sí, necesita un cambio de look.
Use: Soft and polite; focuses on appearance, not nature.
FAQs
1. What is the most common way to say “ugly” in Spanish?
The standard word is feo (masculine) or fea (feminine). It’s simple and used everywhere.
2. Can “feo” describe both people and things?
✅ Yes! Example: un perro feo (an ugly dog), una casa fea (an ugly house).
3. What’s a polite way to say “ugly”?
Use de mal aspecto or mal arreglado. They’re softer and more respectful.
4. Are there slang words for “ugly” in Spanish?
Yes — words like chungo, carachoso, or mamarracho are slang versions, but use them only with friends.
5. Is it rude to call someone “feo”?
Sometimes! It depends on tone. Among friends, it can be teasing; otherwise, it’s considered rude.
6. What’s a cute or funny way to say “ugly”?
Try feúcho / feúcha — it means “a little ugly” but sounds sweet or joking.
7. How do I describe someone’s looks without being rude?
Use raro (strange) or diferente (different) to sound polite while expressing your opinion.
8. Why should I learn these words?
Knowing these words helps you understand slang, jokes, and natural Spanish conversation.
Conclusion:
Now you know how to say ugly in Spanish in many fun and useful ways!
These words help you describe things more clearly and understand real Spanish conversations better. Just remember—words like feo or asqueroso can sound harsh, so use them kindly and with care.
Keep practicing, and soon you’ll speak with natural confidence and cultural awareness.