desgraciado
“desgraciado” means “unfortunate” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
unfortunate
Also: wretched, hapless
📝 In Action
El pobre hombre desgraciado perdió su trabajo y su coche en la misma semana.
B1The poor, unfortunate man lost his job and his car in the same week.
Se siente desgraciado después de la ruptura, pero se recuperará.
B2He feels wretched (miserable) after the breakup, but he will recover.
scoundrel
Also: wretch, bastard
📝 In Action
¡Ese desgraciado me mintió sobre el trato y se quedó con todo!
B2That scoundrel lied to me about the deal and kept everything!
No le hables, es un desgraciado que solo busca aprovecharse de la gente.
C1Don't talk to him, he's a despicable person who only looks to take advantage of people.
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "desgraciado" in Spanish:
bastard→hapless→scoundrel→unfortunate→unlucky→wretch→wretched→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: desgraciado
Question 1 of 2
If someone says, '¡Ese desgraciado me hizo perder el autobús a propósito!' which meaning are they using?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word is formed by adding the negative prefix 'des-' (meaning 'un-' or 'lack of') to the root 'gracia' (which means 'grace' or 'favor/luck'). Therefore, 'desgraciado' literally means 'someone who lacks grace or luck.' This historical meaning explains how it came to mean both 'unfortunate' and 'morally deficient.'
First recorded: 15th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'desgraciado' always a strong insult?
No. It has two main uses. When used with pity (e.g., 'el pobre desgraciado'), it means 'unfortunate' or 'wretched.' When used in anger or contempt, it becomes a very harsh insult meaning 'scoundrel' or 'despicable person.' Tone and context are everything.