melancólico
“melancólico” means “melancholy” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
melancholy, gloomy
Also: mournful, wistful
📝 In Action
Hoy me siento un poco melancólico por la lluvia.
A2I feel a bit melancholy today because of the rain.
Esa canción tiene un ritmo melancólico.
B1That song has a melancholy rhythm.
Su mirada melancólica revelaba que extrañaba su casa.
B2His melancholy gaze revealed that he missed his home.
melancholic
📝 In Action
El joven era un melancólico que pasaba horas mirando el mar.
C1The young man was a melancholic who spent hours looking at the sea.
🔀 Commonly Confused With
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: melancólico
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence describes someone's permanent personality trait?
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👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
From Ancient Greek 'melankholikos', which comes from 'melas' (black) and 'khole' (bile). Ancient doctors believed that having too much 'black bile' in the body made a person feel sad and gloomy.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'melancólico' always a negative word?
Not necessarily. While it involves sadness, it often implies a beautiful, deep, or poetic feeling, especially when talking about art or music.
Can I use it to describe a house or a place?
Yes! You can describe an old, abandoned, or quiet place as 'melancólico' if it gives you a sense of sadness or longing for the past.
What is the difference between 'melancólico' and 'nostálgico'?
They are very close. 'Nostálgico' specifically means you miss something from the past, while 'melancólico' is a general feeling of sadness or gloominess that might not have a specific cause.