A simple illustration of a small child sitting alone on the ground with their knees pulled up, exhibiting a posture of deep sadness. A single tear is visible on their cheek.

tristeza

triss-TAY-sah

nounfA1

sadness?general feeling of unhappiness,sorrow?deep, often prolonged unhappiness

Also:grief?sadness related to loss

📝 In Action

Sentí una gran tristeza cuando se fue.

I felt great sadness when he left.

La tristeza puede ser difícil de superar, pero es normal.

Sadness can be hard to overcome, but it is normal.

Para combatir la tristeza, a veces ayuda hablar con un amigo.

To fight sorrow, sometimes it helps to talk to a friend.

Word Connections

Synonyms

pena (grief, sorrow)
melancolía (melancholy)
congoja (anguish)

Antonyms

alegría (joy)
felicidad (happiness)

Common Collocations

sentir tristeza – to feel sadness
superar la tristeza – to overcome sadness
una profunda tristeza – a deep sadness

💡 Grammar Points

Feminine Noun

Since 'tristeza' ends in -a, it is a feminine word. Always use 'la' or 'una' before it: 'la tristeza'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Noun vs. Adjective

Mistake: "Using 'tristeza' when you mean 'triste' (sad). E.g., 'Yo soy tristeza.'"

Correction: Use the noun 'tristeza' only when referring to the feeling itself. To say 'I am sad,' use the adjective: 'Yo estoy triste.'

⭐ Usage Tips

Expressing the Feeling

To say that sadness is affecting you, you often use the verb 'tener' (to have) or 'sentir' (to feel): 'Tengo mucha tristeza' (I have a lot of sadness).

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: tristeza

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence correctly uses the noun 'tristeza'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

triste(sad (adjective)) - adjective

tristemente(sadly (adverb)) - adverb

entristecer(to sadden) - verb

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'triste' and 'tristeza'?

'Tristeza' is the noun, meaning 'sadness' (the feeling itself). 'Triste' is the adjective, meaning 'sad' (the state of being). You *feel* 'tristeza' but you *are* 'triste'.