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desesperado

des-es-peh-RAH-doh/desespeˈɾaðo/

“desesperado” means “desperate” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

desperate, hopeless

Also: in despair
A storybook illustration of a small person sitting alone on the ground with their head buried in their knees, symbolizing extreme hopelessness.

📝 In Action

Estaba tan desesperado que no sabía qué hacer.

B1

He was so desperate that he didn't know what to do.

La madre se sentía desesperada buscando a su hijo perdido.

B2

The mother felt desperate looking for her lost son.

Parecía desesperada por conseguir el trabajo.

B1

She looked frantic (or desperate) to get the job.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • estar desesperado – to be desperate
  • mirada desesperada – desperate look

desperate, frantic

Also: last-ditch
A storybook illustration showing a person straining intensely, reaching desperately with their fingers extended toward a key that is just beyond their grasp.

📝 In Action

Tomaron una decisión desesperada para salvar el negocio.

B2

They made a desperate decision to save the business.

Fue un intento desesperado por contactar con la policía.

B2

It was a frantic attempt to contact the police.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • medida desesperada – desperate measure
  • acto desesperado – desperate act

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "desesperado" in Spanish:

desperate→frantic→hopeless→in despair→last-ditch→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: desesperado

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly uses the feminine plural form of 'desesperado'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
desesperar(to despair) — Verb
desesperación(despair, hopelessness) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Comes from the Latin verb *desperare*, which is formed by combining the prefix *de-* (meaning 'away from' or 'down') and *sperare* (meaning 'to hope'). Literally, it means 'to be without hope.'

First recorded: Medieval Spanish

Cognates (Related words)

Italian: disperatoFrench: désespéré

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'desesperado' and 'desesperación'?

'Desesperado' is an adjective, meaning 'desperate' or 'hopeless' (describing a person or thing). 'Desesperación' is the noun, meaning 'despair' or 'hopelessness' (the feeling itself).

Can I use 'desesperado' to mean 'annoyed' or 'frustrated'?

While it can sometimes translate to 'frantic,' 'desesperado' implies a much deeper loss of hope or extreme distress. For simple annoyance or frustration, use words like 'frustrado' or 'molesto'.