miserable
“miserable” means “miserable” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
miserable, wretched
Also: pitiable
📝 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.
meager, poor
Also: scanty
📝 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.
despicable, mean-spirited
Also: scoundrel
📝 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.
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "miserable" in Spanish:
despicable→meager→mean-spirited→miserable→pitiable→poor→scanty→scoundrel→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: miserable
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'miserable' to mean 'inadequate' or 'meager'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word comes directly from the Latin *miserabilis*, meaning 'pitiable' or 'wretched.' It is closely related to the Latin word *miser*, meaning 'unhappy' or 'poor.' The concept has always been tied to suffering, poverty, and unhappiness.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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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.