bestia
beast; animal
noun BEH-styah Rare
Origin: Latin bestia (wild animal)
Also means
brute (person)
Usage Note
Bestia is used for any non-human creature in an informal register, but its most common everyday use is figurative: calling someone a bestia means they are ignorant, rough, or brutish. The exclamation bestia! or che bestia! can express frustration or mild insult. Do not confuse with belva (wild/ferocious beast), which is stronger.
Examples
"Quella bestia mi ha spaventato."
Natural Translation
That beast frightened me.
Literal Translation
That beast me has frightened.

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