desafortunado
/de-sah-for-too-NAH-doh/
unlucky
Being 'desafortunado' can mean having bad luck, like being the only one caught in the rain.
desafortunado(adjective)
unlucky
?a person who has bad luck
,unfortunate
?an event or situation that is sad or unlucky
hapless
?describing someone who is consistently unlucky
📝 In Action
Él es un hombre desafortunado en el juego, pero afortunado en el amor.
B1He is an unlucky man in gambling, but lucky in love.
Fue un encuentro desafortunado que cambió sus planes.
B1It was an unfortunate encounter that changed her plans.
💡 Grammar Points
Matching the word
This word changes its ending to match the person or thing you are describing. Use 'desafortunado' for masculine nouns and 'desafortunada' for feminine nouns.
❌ Common Pitfalls
The 'Un-' Trap
Mistake: "unfortunado"
Correction: desafortunado
⭐ Usage Tips
Using it as a noun
You can use this word as a noun by adding 'el' or 'la' in front. 'El desafortunado' means 'the unlucky man'.
An 'inappropriate' or 'desafortunado' choice, such as wearing a clown costume to a formal event.
desafortunado(adjective)
inappropriate
?describing words or actions that were a bad idea
,ill-advised
?a choice or remark that was not well-thought-out
unfortunate
?describing a poor choice of words
📝 In Action
El político hizo un comentario desafortunado sobre la economía.
B2The politician made an inappropriate comment about the economy.
Fue una decisión desafortunada que le costó el trabajo.
B2It was an ill-advised decision that cost him his job.
💡 Grammar Points
Abstract Nouns
When describing abstract ideas like a 'choice' (elección) or 'comment' (comentario), this word acts as a polite way to say someone made a mistake.
⭐ Usage Tips
Soften your criticism
Using 'desafortunado' is a more polite, professional way to describe a mistake than calling it 'bad' or 'stupid'.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: desafortunado
Question 1 of 2
If a friend says something embarrassing at a party, you might describe their comment as:
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'desafortunado' a very formal word?
It is neutral. You can use it in casual conversation to talk about bad luck, but it is also very common in news and business to describe poor decisions.
Can I use 'desafortunado' to mean 'sad'?
Not exactly. While an unfortunate event might be sad, the word specifically describes the lack of luck or the poor timing, not the emotion itself.