desgracia
/des-GRAH-sya/
misfortune
Desgracia, meaning misfortune, illustrates an unfortunate event or bad luck.
desgracia(noun)
misfortune
?an unfortunate event or bad luck
,tragedy
?a disaster or serious accident
calamity
?a great disaster
📝 In Action
Fue una desgracia que se perdieran todas las cosechas por la tormenta.
B1It was a misfortune that all the crops were lost due to the storm.
La familia sufrió una gran desgracia cuando se quemó su casa.
A2The family suffered a great tragedy when their house burned down.
¡Qué desgracia! Se me olvidaron las llaves dentro del coche.
A2What bad luck! I forgot my keys inside the car.
💡 Grammar Points
Using 'Por desgracia'
When you want to express the idea of 'unfortunately,' Spanish speakers use the fixed phrase 'por desgracia' (or the synonym 'desafortunadamente').
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing 'desgracia' and 'mala suerte'
Mistake: "Using 'desgracia' for minor bad luck (e.g., 'Perdí mi bus, ¡qué desgracia!')."
Correction: Use 'mala suerte' (bad luck) for small, everyday annoyances. 'Desgracia' usually refers to a serious accident or tragedy.
⭐ Usage Tips
Expressing Sympathy
You can use '¡Qué desgracia!' to express strong dismay or sympathy when hearing about someone else's serious bad news.
When desgracia means disgrace, it refers to shame or loss of reputation.
desgracia(noun)
disgrace
?shame or loss of reputation
loss of favor
?losing approval from a person or group
,shame
?public humiliation
📝 In Action
El escándalo provocó la desgracia del político en la opinión pública.
C1The scandal caused the politician's disgrace in the eyes of the public.
Después de ese error, el asistente cayó en desgracia ante el jefe.
B2After that mistake, the assistant fell out of favor with the boss.
💡 Grammar Points
Formal Usage
In this sense, 'desgracia' often appears with verbs like 'caer en' (to fall into) or 'provocar' (to provoke), showing a change in status or reputation.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: desgracia
Question 1 of 2
Which of these sentences uses 'desgracia' in the sense of 'shame or loss of reputation' (Meaning 2)?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'desgracia' and 'mala suerte'?
'Mala suerte' is general bad luck, often for minor things (e.g., losing a game). 'Desgracia' refers to a serious, often tragic, event or disaster (e.g., an accident, a death, a major ruin). Use 'desgracia' for bigger problems.
Can 'desgracia' be used as an adjective?
No, 'desgracia' is a noun. However, its related word, 'desgraciado/a,' is a common adjective meaning 'unfortunate' or 'miserable.'