desesperación
“desesperación” means “despair” in Spanish (feeling of hopelessness).
despair, desperation
Also: hopelessness, anguish
📝 In Action
La desesperación se apoderó de él cuando perdió el trabajo.
B1Despair overwhelmed him when he lost his job.
Actuamos por pura desesperación, buscando una solución rápida.
B2We acted out of pure desperation, looking for a quick solution.
El retraso del tren causó mucha desesperación entre los pasajeros.
B1The train delay caused a lot of desperation among the passengers.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: desesperación
Question 1 of 1
Which Spanish phrase correctly describes acting due to a state of extreme distress?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
This word comes from the Latin word *desperatio*, which is built from *de-* (a prefix meaning 'away from' or 'down') and *sperare* ('to hope'). Essentially, it means 'the state of being without hope.'
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'desesperación' and 'desesperanza'?
'Desesperación' (despair/desperation) is a strong, active, and often acute feeling of distress that can lead to action. 'Desesperanza' (hopelessness) is a more passive, general state of lacking hope for the future. While similar, 'desesperación' carries a stronger emotional intensity.
How do I use 'desesperación' in a sentence about a situation?
You can say the situation 'caused' the feeling: 'El tráfico causó mucha desesperación.' (The traffic caused a lot of desperation.)