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siniestra

/siˈnjestra/
adjective★Intermediate— sinister, ominous
formalinformal

Having a dark, threatening, or evil quality; sinister or ominous.

El personaje de la película tenía una sonrisa siniestra.

The character in the movie had a sinister smile.

Las nubes siniestras anunciaban una tormenta.

The sinister clouds foretold a storm.

💡

In Spanish, 'siniestra' can also refer to the left side, but this meaning is less common and often replaced by 'izquierda'.

Collocations

mirada siniestrasinister gazesonrisa siniestrasinister smileatmósfera siniestrasinister atmosphere

Synonyms

tenebrososiniestromacabrolúgubre

Antonyms

benignoalegreserenopacífico

💡Pro Tip

Avoid confusion with 'izquierda'

'Siniestra' is rarely used to mean 'left' in modern Spanish. Use 'izquierda' instead unless describing something as sinister.

📖Word Origin

From Latin 'sinister', meaning 'left' (associated with bad omens in ancient times).

📝Usage Notes

While 'siniestra' can mean 'left' in some contexts, it is more commonly used to describe something as sinister or ominous. For the left side, 'izquierda' is preferred.

Word Breakdown

sin-
bad, evil
prefix
+
-iestra
related to the left side (archaic)
suffix
Diccionario Español-Inglés

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