desgraciado
/dess-grah-SYAH-doh/
unfortunate
Being "unfortunate" means having bad luck follow you everywhere.
desgraciado(adjective)
unfortunate
?describing a person's bad luck
wretched
?miserable or pathetic
,hapless
?lacking luck
📝 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.
💡 Grammar Points
Changing Gender
Like many Spanish adjectives ending in -o, you must change the ending to match the person you are describing: use 'desgraciada' for a woman, and 'desgraciados/as' for plurals.
⭐ Usage Tips
Use with Ser/Estar
When describing someone's general character or permanent state of being unlucky, use 'ser' (Es un desgraciado). If describing a temporary feeling of wretchedness or misery, 'estar' can be used (Está desgraciado).
A "scoundrel" is a morally bad or dishonest person.
desgraciado(noun)
scoundrel
?a morally bad or dishonest person
wretch
?a person you feel contempt for
,bastard
?strong derogatory term
📝 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.
💡 Grammar Points
Used as a Noun
In this context, 'desgraciado' acts as a name for a person, so it usually needs an article before it (el desgraciado, un desgraciado).
⭐ Usage Tips
Register Warning
Be extremely careful! This meaning is highly offensive and is used to express anger or contempt. It should be avoided in formal settings or when speaking to strangers.
✏️ 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
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.