impotente
“impotente” means “helpless” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
helpless
Also: powerless
📝 In Action
Me siento impotente porque no puedo ayudar a mi amigo.
B1I feel helpless because I can't help my friend.
La policía se vio impotente ante la gran multitud.
B2The police were powerless before the large crowd.
Es una rabia impotente la que siento ahora mismo.
C1It is a helpless rage that I feel right now.
impotent
Also: sterile
📝 In Action
El paciente ha sido diagnosticado como impotente.
B2The patient has been diagnosed as impotent.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: impotente
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence describes someone feeling frustrated because they can't change a bad situation?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From Latin 'impotens', made of 'in-' (not) and 'potens' (powerful).
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'impotente' an offensive word?
It depends on the context. If you use it to describe your feelings about a situation (like a natural disaster), it's not offensive. If used toward a person regarding their physical capabilities, it can be very sensitive or rude.
Can I use 'impotente' for objects?
No, it is almost exclusively used for people or their feelings/reactions.
How do I say 'helplessness' as a noun?
The noun form is 'la impotencia'.