doloroso
“doloroso” means “painful” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
painful, sore
Also: aching
📝 In Action
La herida en mi rodilla es muy dolorosa.
A2The wound on my knee is very painful.
Necesitas una operación, pero no será dolorosa.
B1You need an operation, but it won't be painful.
heartbreaking, distressing
Also: sorrowful
📝 In Action
La pérdida de su mascota fue muy dolorosa para ella.
B1The loss of her pet was very painful/heartbreaking for her.
Tomaron la dolorosa decisión de cerrar el negocio.
B2They made the painful decision to close the business.
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "doloroso" in Spanish:
aching→distressing→heartbreaking→painful→sore→sorrowful→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: doloroso
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'doloroso' to describe emotional pain, not physical pain?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word *dolor* (meaning 'pain' or 'grief') combined with the common Latin suffix *-osus*, which means 'full of' or 'characterized by.' So, 'doloroso' literally means 'full of pain.'
First recorded: Medieval Spanish (c. 13th century)
Cognates (Related words)
💡 Master Spanish
Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'doloroso' and 'doler'?
'Doler' is the verb meaning 'to hurt' or 'to ache,' and it works backward, like the verb 'gustar' (Me duele la cabeza = My head hurts me). 'Doloroso' is the adjective that describes something *as* painful (La noticia es dolorosa = The news is painful).