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siniestro
/siˈnjestro/
sinister, ominous
La casa abandonada tenía un aspecto siniestro bajo la luz de la luna.
The abandoned house had a sinister appearance under the moonlight.
general
Having a dark, threatening, or evil quality; causing fear or unease.
El personaje de la película tenía una sonrisa siniestra.
The character in the movie had a sinister smile.
Often used to describe people, places, or situations that evoke fear or dread.
technical
In insurance, referring to an event causing damage or loss (e.g., accident, disaster).
El seguro cubre los daños siniestros causados por incendios.
The insurance covers damages from fires.
In this context, 'siniestro' is a legal term for an insured event.
Collocations
aspecto siniestrosinister appearancesonrisa siniestrasinister smileevento siniestroinsured event (insurance)
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Context Matters
The meaning shifts between general and insurance contexts.
Gold Rule
Avoid Overuse
In informal speech, 'siniestro' can sound dramatic; use 'tenebroso' for subtlety.
Word Origin
From Latin 'sinister,' meaning 'left' (associated with bad omens in ancient times).
Usage Notes
In everyday Spanish, 'siniestro' is often used to describe something eerie or threatening. In insurance, it refers to a covered loss event.
Word Breakdown
sin-
bad, evil
prefix-estro
quality or state
suffixDiccionario Español-Inglés