pobres

/POH-brehs/

poor

Two young children, a boy and a girl, sitting side-by-side on a simple wooden bench. They are both wearing simple, slightly patched clothes and smiling while sharing a single, bright red apple.

This image illustrates "pobres" meaning "poor" (adjective, plural), describing people who lack money.

pobres(Adjective)

m/fA1

poor

lacking money (plural)

unfortunate

expressing sympathy (plural)

Also:

needy

in need of help

📝 In Action

Las casas pobres de ese barrio fueron demolidas.

The poor houses in that neighborhood were demolished.

¡Pobres niños! Perdieron su juguete favorito.

Poor kids! They lost their favorite toy.

Mis resultados académicos fueron muy pobres este semestre.

My academic results were very poor this semester.

Word Connections

Synonyms

necesitados (needy)
miserables (miserable)

Antonyms

ricos (rich)
adinerados (wealthy)

Common Collocations

Familias pobres – Poor families
Lugares pobres – Poor places (regions)

💡 Grammar Points

Adjective Agreement (Plural)

Since 'pobres' is the plural form of 'pobre', it is used to describe more than one person or thing. It works for both masculine and feminine things (e.g., 'chicos pobres' and 'chicas pobres').

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing Adjective and Adverb

Mistake: "Hablamos pobremente."

Correction: Hablamos mal. ('pobre' is an adjective, 'pobremente' exists but 'mal' is usually better for 'badly'.)

⭐ Usage Tips

Placement Matters

When 'pobre' is placed before the noun (e.g., '¡Pobres niños!'), it often means 'pitiful' or 'unfortunate.' When placed after the noun (e.g., 'niños pobres'), it usually means 'lacking money.'

A diverse group of six people, including adults and children, standing closely together in simple, humble clothing, representing a community.

This image illustrates "pobres" meaning "the poor" (noun), referring to a collective group of people.

pobres(Noun)

m/fB1

the poor

collective group of people

poor people

general reference

📝 In Action

Se necesita un plan para ayudar a los pobres.

A plan is needed to help the poor.

Viven entre los pobres de la ciudad.

They live among the poor people of the city.

Las ayudas están destinadas a los más pobres.

The aid is intended for the poorest (people).

Word Connections

Synonyms

desfavorecidos (underprivileged)
indigentes (destitute people)

Antonyms

ricos (the rich)
poderosos (the powerful)

Common Collocations

Proteger a los pobres – To protect the poor
Cuidar de los pobres – To look after the poor

💡 Grammar Points

Adjectives Used as Nouns

In Spanish, you can turn an adjective into a noun by adding the definite article ('el', 'la', 'los', 'las'). 'Los pobres' means 'the poor people' collectively. This is a very common structure.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using the Article Incorrectly

Mistake: "Ayudamos a pobres."

Correction: Ayudamos a **los** pobres. (When referring to the collective group, the article 'los' is usually required.)

⭐ Usage Tips

Speaking About Social Class

When talking about economic status as a general category, always use 'los pobres' (the poor) or 'la clase pobre' (the poor class).

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: pobres

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'pobres' to express sympathy rather than lack of money?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

pobre(poor (singular)) - adjective

pobreza(poverty) - noun

empobrecer(to impoverish) - verb

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if 'pobres' is an adjective or a noun?

If it has 'los' or 'las' directly in front of it (e.g., 'los pobres'), it's being used as a noun meaning 'the poor people.' If it is attached to another noun (e.g., 'casas pobres'), it is acting as an adjective describing that noun.

Is 'pobres' always about money?

No. While the primary meaning is financial, it is very often used to mean 'unfortunate,' 'pitiful,' or 'of low quality' (like 'pobres resultados' meaning 'poor results'). Context is key!