Skip to content

desgraciado

unfortunate

adjective dehs-grah-SYAH-doh Rare

Also means

wretched

Usage Note

Desgraciado can mean 'unfortunate' in a neutral sense (un accidente desgraciado), but as a standalone noun or direct address it becomes an insult — roughly 'wretch' or a stronger pejorative. Context and tone are everything here: applied to a situation it is sympathetic, applied to a person it is offensive. The feminine form is desgraciada.

Examples

"Fue un accidente desgraciado para todos."

Natural Translation

It was an unfortunate accident for everyone.

Explore Spanish by topic