desesperada
/deh-sehs-peh-RAH-dah/
desperate
Illustrating the feeling of being "desperate" (adjective), conveying extreme urgency and hopelessness.
desesperada(Adjective)
desperate
?Feeling hopeless or needing something urgently
frantic
?Acting wildly due to despair
,hopeless
?Completely without hope
📝 In Action
Estaba tan desesperada que llamó a todos sus contactos.
B1She was so desperate that she called all her contacts.
La situación económica es desesperada para muchas familias.
B2The economic situation is desperate for many families.
Su mirada era desesperada, pidiendo ayuda en silencio.
B1Her gaze was desperate, silently asking for help.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender Agreement
As an adjective, 'desesperada' must agree with the feminine noun it describes (e.g., 'mujer desesperada', 'situación desesperada').
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using the wrong form
Mistake: "Using 'desesperado' when talking about a woman or a feminine noun."
Correction: Always check the gender of the word being described. Use 'desesperada' for feminine words.
⭐ Usage Tips
Intense Emotion
'Desesperada' conveys a very strong emotion—it's more intense than just 'sad' or 'worried'; it implies a complete lack of solutions.
Visualizing the noun, "desperate woman," identified by her state of overwhelming need or desperation.
desesperada(Noun)
desperate woman
?A person identified by their state of desperation
distraught person
?Focusing on the emotional state
📝 In Action
La policía intentó calmar a la desesperada antes de que saltara.
B2The police tried to calm the desperate woman before she jumped.
El noticiero describió a la ladrona como una desesperada sin recursos.
C1The news described the thief as a desperate person without resources.
💡 Grammar Points
Adjective functioning as a Noun
In Spanish, you can often turn an adjective into a noun by placing an article (like 'la') in front of it. Here, 'la desesperada' means 'the desperate one (female).'
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: desesperada
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'desesperada' in agreement?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'desesperada' and 'desesperado'?
They mean the exact same thing ('desperate'), but 'desesperada' is used when describing a feminine person or thing (like 'la mujer' or 'la situación'), while 'desesperado' is used for masculine words (like 'el hombre' or 'el intento').