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pobres

POH-brehs/ˈpoβɾes/

“pobres” means “poor” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

poor, unfortunate

Also: needy
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.

📝 In Action

Las casas pobres de ese barrio fueron demolidas.

A2

The poor houses in that neighborhood were demolished.

¡Pobres niños! Perdieron su juguete favorito.

A1

Poor kids! They lost their favorite toy.

Mis resultados académicos fueron muy pobres este semestre.

B1

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)

the poor, poor people

Nounm/fB1
A diverse group of six people, including adults and children, standing closely together in simple, humble clothing, representing a community.

📝 In Action

Se necesita un plan para ayudar a los pobres.

B1

A plan is needed to help the poor.

Viven entre los pobres de la ciudad.

B2

They live among the poor people of the city.

Las ayudas están destinadas a los más pobres.

B2

The aid is intended for the poorest (people).

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • desfavorecidos (underprivileged)
  • indigentes (destitute people)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

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

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "pobres" in Spanish:

needy→poor people→unfortunate→

✏️ 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▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
hombressobres
📚 Etymology▼

The word comes from the Latin word *pauper*, meaning 'poor, not wealthy.' It entered Spanish early and has kept its core meaning related to lacking resources.

First recorded: Old Spanish (likely before the 13th century)

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: pobresItalian: poveriFrench: pauvres

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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!