noun
diablo
noun
1
The devil — used informally, often for dramatic or slangy effect in English.
"The stunt was so reckless the crew nicknamed him "diablo.""
2
A hot, dry downslope wind, similar to a Santa Ana wind, that can fan wildfires in parts of California.
"Firefighters braced for the fast-moving blaze as diablo winds picked up overnight."
How to Use Diablo
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSpanish for "devil," used in English mainly as a loanword for a type of dangerous fire-spreading wind, or informally to mean something devilish or fierce.
Common pairings
diablo winds
diablo sauce
Word Forms
diablos plural, Diablos plural
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “diablo”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The stunt was so reckless the crew nicknamed him "_____."
Etymology
Borrowed directly from Spanish diablo, "devil," which itself descends from Latin diabolus.