miserable
/mee-seh-RAH-bleh/
miserable
Feeling extremely unhappy or distressed.
miserable(Adjective)
miserable
?extremely unhappy or distressed
,wretched
?feeling terrible
pitiable
?deserving pity
📝 In Action
Estaba tan miserable después de que su perro se fue.
A2She was so miserable after her dog left.
No te sientas miserable por un pequeño error.
B1Don't feel miserable about a small mistake.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender Consistency
Since 'miserable' ends in '-e', it doesn't change based on whether the person is masculine or feminine (e.g., 'el hombre miserable' and 'la mujer miserable').
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing with 'poor'
Mistake: "Using 'pobre' when you mean emotionally wretched."
Correction: 'Pobre' usually means lacking money. If you mean 'unhappy,' use 'miserable' or 'infeliz'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Describing Objects
You can use 'miserable' to describe things, not just people, when you mean they are extremely poor quality or inadequate.
An inadequate or meager amount.
miserable(Adjective)
meager
?inadequate amount or quality
,poor
?very low quality or quantity
scanty
?barely enough
📝 In Action
El salario que me ofrecieron era realmente miserable.
B1The salary they offered me was truly miserable (meager/inadequate).
Vivían en condiciones miserables, sin agua potable.
B2They lived in wretched conditions, without drinking water.
💡 Grammar Points
Describing Resources
When talking about money, living situations, or food, using 'miserable' emphasizes how desperately poor or insufficient the resource is.
Behaving in a contemptible or morally bad way.
miserable(Adjective)
despicable
?contemptible or morally bad
,mean-spirited
?cruel or petty
scoundrel
?used as a noun (el/la miserable)
📝 In Action
Solo un miserable haría algo tan cruel.
B2Only a despicable person (a scoundrel) would do something so cruel.
No seas tan miserable y comparte tus galletas.
C1Don't be so mean-spirited (or stingy) and share your cookies.
💡 Grammar Points
Using it as a Noun
You can use 'miserable' just like a noun (a person) by adding 'el' or 'la.' This is a very strong insult, calling someone a 'wretch' or 'scoundrel'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Tone Warning
Use this meaning carefully; it carries a lot of emotional weight and can be very offensive.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: miserable
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'miserable' to mean 'inadequate' or 'meager'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'miserable' change for masculine and feminine nouns?
No. Since 'miserable' ends in the letter 'e,' it is one of those helpful adjectives that stays the same for both men and women (e.g., 'el niño miserable' and 'la niña miserable'). However, it does change for plural: 'miserables'.
Is 'miserable' stronger than 'triste' (sad)?
Yes, much stronger. 'Triste' means sad. 'Miserable' implies a deep, wretched, or desperate state of unhappiness, or refers to conditions that are extremely poor.