melancolía
“melancolía” means “melancholy” in Spanish (A deep, pensive sadness).
melancholy, gloom
Also: homesickness, wistfulness
📝 In Action
Siento una profunda melancolía cuando escucho las canciones de mi infancia.
B1I feel a deep melancholy when I listen to the songs of my childhood.
La melancolía del otoño siempre me hace reflexionar sobre la vida.
B2The gloom of autumn always makes me reflect on life.
Sus ojos estaban llenos de melancolía al recordar su antiguo hogar.
C1Her eyes were full of wistfulness as she remembered her old home.
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Quick Quiz: melancolía
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence correctly describes a woman feeling sad?
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👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
From Ancient Greek 'melankholía,' which literally means 'black bile.' Ancient doctors believed that having too much black bile in your body caused this specific kind of sadness.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'melancolía' the same as 'tristeza'?
Not exactly. 'Tristeza' is general sadness. 'Melancolía' is more specific; it's a longer-lasting, more romantic or reflective sadness, often linked to memories.
Can I use 'melancolía' to describe a place?
Yes! You can say 'un paisaje lleno de melancolía' (a landscape full of melancholy) to describe a place that feels sad and quiet, like a park in winter.
Is the stress on the 'i'?
Yes. The accent mark on the 'í' (melancolía) tells you to put the emphasis on that syllable and split the 'i' and 'a' into two distinct sounds.