Today’s Spanish word of the day is “boquiabierto”.
It’s an adjective formed by combining the words “boca”, meaning “mouth” and “abierto”, meaning “open”.
It can refer to literally having your mouth wide open, or can be translated as “speechless”, “dumbstruck” or “dumbfounded”.
It’s usually used to describe the kind of shock or amazement that would leave you with your mouth wide open.
Example Sentences
Beginner
Here are some example sentences at beginner (A1/A2) level:
Ana se quedó boquiabierta cuando vio el hermoso paisaje.
Ana was astonished when she saw the beautiful landscape.
Los niños se quedaron boquiabiertos con el espectáculo de fuegos artificiales.
The children were left dumbstruck by the fireworks show.
Los turistas estuvieron boquiabiertos ante las antiguas ruinas.
The tourists were open-mouthed in front of the ancient ruins.
Intermediate
Here are some example sentences at intermediate (B1/B2) level:
Mis padres se quedaron boquiabiertos cuando les anuncié que me iba a estudiar en el extranjero.
My parents were astonished when I told them I was going to study abroad.
Aunque era un espectáculo que había visto varias veces, mi hijo menor no dejaba de mirar boquiabierto a los acróbatas.
Although it was a show he had seen several times, my youngest son couldn’t stop watching the acrobats open-mouthed.
Boquiabiertos de asombro, los exploradores contemplaron la majestuosa cascada que se extendía ante sus ojos.
Open-mouthed with astonishment, the explorers gazed at the majestic waterfall that stretched before their eyes.
Advanced
Here are some example sentences at advanced (C1/C2) level:
La revelación del secreto nos dejó boquiabiertos. Nunca sospechamos que algo así estuviera sucediendo a nuestras espaldas.
The revelation of the secret left us open-mouthed. We never suspected that something like that was happening behind our backs.
El ingeniero se quedó boquiabierto ante la sofisticada inteligencia artificial capaz de replicar, con insólita perfección, el comportamiento y las emociones humanas.
The engineer was left dumbstruck by the sophisticated artificial intelligence capable of replicating, with uncanny perfection, human behavior and emotions.
El desenlace de la novela me dejó boquiabierto, nunca esperé ese giro argumental tan inesperado.
The ending of the novel left me speechless; I never expected that unexpected plot twist.
