imposible

impossible

imposible(

eem

poh

see

bleh

)

An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g. the big dog).

adjective

1. (unfeasible)

a. impossible

Parecía un sueño imposible, pero seguí intentándolo y al final lo conseguí.It seemed an impossible dream, but I persevered, and eventually I succeeded.

Es imposible hacer tantas cosas al mismo tiempo.It's impossible to do so many things at the same time.

A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).

(colloquial)

(insufferable)

a. impossible (person)

Hoy está imposible porque anoche no durmió bien.She is being impossible today because she didn't sleep well last night.

b. difficult (person)

¡Es una persona imposible! Yo no sé cómo tú lo aguantas.He's such a difficult person! I don't know how you put up with him.

3. (intolerable)

a. impossible (situation)

La situación en casa se volvió imposible y al final pedí el divorcio.The situation at home became impossible, and eventually I filed for divorce.

A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).

(colloquial)

(dirty)

Regionalism used in Chile

(Chile)

a. filthy

Cuando la depresión era aguda, no salía de su cama y se veía imposible.During moments of severe depression, she didn't leave her bed and looked filthy.

El vagabundo no se había lavado en semanas y estaba imposible.The bum hadn't washed in weeks and looked filthy.

A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g. el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).

masculine noun

5. (impossibility)

a. impossible

Tú sabes que lo que nos pides es un imposible.You know that you're asking the impossible of us.

b. impossible dream (aspiration)

Ojalá pudieras dejar de perseguir imposibles y ceñirte a la realidad.If only you could just stop chasing impossible dreams and could stick to reality.

c. impossible task (undertaking)

Sacar el negocio a flote es ya un imposible.To get the business back on its feet is an impossible task by now.

d. impossible goal (aim)

Será difícil lograrlo, pero no es un imposible.It'll be difficult to achieve, but it's not an impossible goal.

imposible

An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g. the big dog).

adjective

1. (irrealizable)

a. impossible

es imposible de arreglarit's impossible to fix, it can't be fixed

es imposible que se lo haya dichohe can't possibly have told her

nos fue imposible irwe were unable to go

hacer lo imposibleto do everything possible and more

2. (colloquial)

a. unbearable, impossible

el tráfico en el centro estaba imposiblethe traffic in the center was impossible o a nightmare

A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling or idea (e.g. man, dog, house).

Noun

3. (general)

pedir imposiblesto ask for the impossible

imposible

adjective

1 (no posible) impossible

es imposible it's impossible; it's out of the question; es imposible de predecir it's impossible to predict

hacer lo imposible

hacer lo imposible por hacer algo to do one's utmost to do sth; ¡parece imposible! you'd never believe it!

2 (inaguantable) impossible

3 (difícil) impossible

4 (Latinoamérica) (descuidado) slovenly; dirty; (repugnante) repulsive

un imposible (tarea) an impossible task; (objetivo) an impossible goal; lo que voy a pedir es un imposible what I'm about to ask is impossible; I'm about to ask for the impossible; perseguía un imposible he was pursuing an impossible dream o aim

para algunos cocineros lograr una salsa bearnesa es un imposible

Collins Complete Spanish Electronic Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers 2011

Examples

Phrases

es imposible	it's impossible
es imposible que	it's impossible that
Lo único imposible es aquello que no intentas.	Nothing is impossible if you just put your mind to it.
me es imposible	it's impossible for me
es imposible de saber	it's impossible to know
es imposible que el nivel de desempleo haya subido	it's impossible for the unemployment rate to have increased
imposible de alcanzar	unattainable