General
brutal
What does brutal mean?
In Puerto Rico 'brutal' inverts its literal meaning to mean something is fantastic or outstanding. Calling your food or a concert 'brutal' is high praise.
"Ese concierto de anoche estuvo brutal."
Origin
Puerto Rican Spanish; positive inversion of standard Spanish 'brutal' (brutish).
Frequently asked questions
What does 'brutal' mean in Puerto Rico?
It means amazing, excellent, or outstanding — it's high praise, the opposite of its literal meaning.
Why does 'brutal' mean something good?
It's a positive inversion in Puerto Rican Spanish, flipping the standard sense of 'brutish' into a compliment.
How do you use 'brutal'?
Describe something you loved with it, like 'ese concierto estuvo brutal' — 'that concert was awesome'.
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