miseria

/mee-SEH-ryah/

poverty

A worn, empty ceramic bowl sitting on a rough, cracked wooden table, symbolizing extreme lack of resources.

Miseria, meaning poverty (extreme lack of money or resources).

miseria(noun)

fB1

poverty

extreme lack of money or resources

destitution

state of being extremely poor

Also:

penury

literary term for poverty

📝 In Action

Mucha gente vive en la miseria absoluta en esa región.

Many people live in absolute poverty in that region.

La guerra dejó al país sumido en la miseria.

The war left the country plunged into destitution.

Word Connections

Synonyms

pobreza (poverty)
indigencia (indigence)

Antonyms

riqueza (wealth)
abundancia (abundance)

Common Collocations

vivir en la miseria – to live in poverty
miseria humana – human suffering/wretchedness

💡 Grammar Points

Always Feminine

Since 'miseria' ends in -a, it is always a feminine noun and uses 'la' or 'una'.

⭐ Usage Tips

Stronger than 'Pobreza'

While 'pobreza' means general poverty, 'miseria' often implies a more extreme, desperate, and painful level of destitution.

A solitary person wearing simple, gray clothes, sitting hunched over on a stone bench with their head down, conveying deep emotional suffering.

Miseria, meaning misery (emotional pain or suffering).

miseria(noun)

fB2

misery

emotional pain or suffering

wretchedness

a state of great unhappiness

Also:

sorrow

deep sadness

📝 In Action

Sentía una gran miseria después de la pérdida de su mascota.

She felt great misery after the loss of her pet.

La miseria de su vida se reflejaba en sus ojos.

The wretchedness of his life was reflected in his eyes.

Word Connections

Synonyms

angustia (anguish)
infelicidad (unhappiness)

Antonyms

felicidad (happiness)
alegría (joy)

⭐ Usage Tips

Moral Misery

This meaning can also refer to moral decay or spiritual suffering, similar to 'wretchedness' in English.

A massive, open, empty hand holding one single, tiny, shiny gold coin in the center of the palm, emphasizing insufficiency.

Miseria, meaning pittance (a meager or insufficient amount of money).

miseria(noun)

fC1

pittance

a meager or insufficient amount of money

peanuts

a trifling amount (slang)

Also:

trifle

something of little value

📝 In Action

Le pagaron una miseria por el trabajo de todo el mes.

They paid him a pittance for a whole month's work.

Solo había una miseria de pan en la nevera.

There was only a tiny bit of bread (a trifle) in the fridge.

Word Connections

Synonyms

migaja (crumb/pittance)
nada (nothing)

Idioms & Expressions

por una miseria – for next to nothing (very cheaply)

⭐ Usage Tips

Use with 'De'

When referring to a small quantity, you often hear 'una miseria de X' (a tiny amount of X).

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: miseria

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'miseria' to mean 'a very small amount'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

miserable(miserable, wretched, stingy) - adjective

mísero(meager, poor, wretched) - adjective

miserablemente(miserably) - adverb

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'miseria' and 'pobreza'?

'Pobreza' (poverty) is the general term for lacking money or resources. 'Miseria' is much stronger; it usually means extreme, desperate, and painful poverty, or destitution. Use 'miseria' when you want to emphasize the severity of the lack.

Can 'miseria' be used to describe stinginess?

Yes, indirectly. The related adjective 'miserable' often means 'stingy' or 'cheap' in Spanish, referring to someone who gives a very small, insufficient amount (a 'miseria'). However, 'miseria' itself describes the state of lack or the small amount given, not the person's character.