Spanish word of the day: Morbo

What does morbo mean?

Morbo (masculine noun) — This word is packed with nuance. At its core, it means a morbid curiosity or fascination, especially with things that are shocking, taboo, or just a little bit off-limits. In everyday Spanish, it’s also used informally to talk about sexual attraction or something that has an irresistible, provocative edge.

Example sentences with morbo

• La prensa amarilla alimenta el morbo de la gente.
  📰 The tabloid press feeds people’s morbid curiosity.

• Esa película de terror solo la veo por el morbo.
  👀 I only watch that horror movie out of morbid fascination.

• No es especialmente guapo, pero tiene mucho morbo.
  😉 He’s not especially handsome, but there’s something sexy about him.

Morbo in context

Morbo is one of those words that pops up whenever there’s something a bit forbidden or tantalizing in the air. You’ll hear it a lot when people talk about why they can’t look away from sensational news stories, crime documentaries, or even gossip—there’s a pull that goes beyond normal curiosity. In these cases, morbo captures that feeling of being drawn to the shocking or the taboo, even if you know you probably shouldn’t be so interested.

But morbo isn’t just about curiosity. In everyday conversation, especially in Spain, it’s often used to describe a kind of raw, magnetic attraction—someone or something that isn’t conventionally attractive, but still has a certain “edge” or sex appeal that you can’t quite explain. If you hear someone say “tiene morbo,” they’re talking about that extra spark that makes a person intriguing or irresistible, even if it’s not obvious at first glance.