Inklingo

How to Say "devastated" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “devastated” is “desolado” — use this word for profound sadness and grief, often from loss, implying a feeling of emptiness.

desolado🔊B1

Use this word for profound sadness and grief, often from loss, implying a feeling of emptiness.

Learn more →
destrozado🔊B2

Choose this for feeling emotionally shattered or completely broken, usually after a significant negative event or disappointment.

Learn more →
destruida🔊B1

Use this when someone is deeply upset or emotionally crushed, often implying a sense of being ruined by an event like a breakup.

Learn more →
devastado🔊B2

Use this for extreme upset or being overwhelmed by grief, or when something is physically destroyed or ruined.

Learn more →
roto🔊B2

This is used figuratively to mean being emotionally heartbroken or 'broken' by circumstances, often implying a lack of resources or energy.

Learn more →
golpeóB2

Use this verb in its figurative sense when an event or situation 'hits' or affects something or someone very hard, causing significant damage or impact.

Learn more →
English → Spanish

desolado

deh-so-LAH-dohdesoˈlaðo

adjectiveB1
Use this word for profound sadness and grief, often from loss, implying a feeling of emptiness.
A small, sad teddy bear sitting alone on a wooden floor in a dimly lit room.

Examples

Juan está desolado por la pérdida de su gato.

Juan is heartbroken over the loss of his cat.

Me sentí desolada cuando escuché las noticias.

I felt devastated when I heard the news.

Quedó desolado al saber que no había aprobado el examen.

He was devastated to find out he hadn't passed the exam.

Using with 'Estar'

Since this word describes a feeling or a state that resulted from an event, always use it with 'estar' rather than 'ser'.

Matching Gender

Remember to change the ending to 'desolada' if you are describing a woman or a feminine object.

Don't use 'ser'

Mistake: “Soy desolado.”

Correction: Estoy desolado. Use 'estar' because you aren't a heartbroken person by nature; you feel that way right now.

destrozado

des-tro-ZAH-dohdes.tɾoˈθa.ðo

adjectiveB2
Choose this for feeling emotionally shattered or completely broken, usually after a significant negative event or disappointment.
A simple, stylized human figure sitting alone, hunched over and weeping intensely, conveying deep emotional devastation.

Examples

Estaba destrozado después de perder el partido final.

He was devastated after losing the final match.

Llegué a casa totalmente destrozada tras doce horas de trabajo.

I arrived home totally shattered (exhausted) after twelve hours of work.

destruida

des-troo-EE-dahdesˈtɾwiða

adjectiveB1
Use this when someone is deeply upset or emotionally crushed, often implying a sense of being ruined by an event like a breakup.
A sad person sitting on a park bench with their head in their hands, looking very upset.

Examples

Ella quedó destruida después de la ruptura.

She was devastated after the breakup.

Estoy destruida tras correr el maratón.

I'm wiped out after running the marathon.

Describing People

When used for a person, it's almost always feminine in this form ('Ella está destruida'). If you are a woman, you say 'Estoy destruida'.

devastado

deh-bahs-TAH-dohdeβasˈtaðo

adjectiveB2
Use this for extreme upset or being overwhelmed by grief, or when something is physically destroyed or ruined.
A sad character sitting alone on a small wooden bench with their head down in their hands.

Examples

La ciudad quedó devastada tras el paso del huracán.

The city was left devastated after the hurricane passed through.

Juan quedó devastado cuando supo la noticia del accidente.

Juan was devastated when he heard the news about the accident.

Me siento devastada por la pérdida de mi mejor amiga.

I feel devastated by the loss of my best friend.

La familia está devastada y pide privacidad.

The family is devastated and asks for privacy.

Changing the Ending

Since this is an adjective, you must change the ending to match the person. Use 'devastado' for a man and 'devastada' for a woman.

Using it with 'Quedar'

In Spanish, we often use the word 'quedar' (to stay/remain) with this word to show how someone was left feeling after a big event.

Matching Objects

If you are describing a city (la ciudad), use 'devastada.' If describing buildings (los edificios), use 'devastados.'

Describing the Cause

We usually use 'por' (by) to explain what caused the destruction, such as 'devastado por el fuego' (devastated by fire).

Don't use 'Ser'

Mistake: “Él es devastado.”

Correction: Él está devastado (or 'quedó devastado'). We use 'estar' because we are describing a state or a feeling, not a permanent character trait.

Stronger than 'Dañado'

Mistake: “El coche está devastado por un rasguño.”

Correction: El coche está dañado. Use 'devastado' only for total or near-total destruction.

roto

ROH-tohˈro.to

adjectiveB2informal
This is used figuratively to mean being emotionally heartbroken or 'broken' by circumstances, often implying a lack of resources or energy.
A sad-looking ceramic piggy bank lying on its side, with the coin slot clearly empty, emphasizing financial destitution.

Examples

No puedo salir, estoy totalmente roto este mes.

I can't go out, I'm totally broke this month.

Después de la noticia, ella quedó rota, sin palabras.

After the news, she was devastated, speechless.

Emotional States

When describing feelings or mental states (like being exhausted or heartbroken), Spanish always uses 'estar' with 'roto/a' because it describes a current, temporary condition.

golpeó

verbB2
Use this verb in its figurative sense when an event or situation 'hits' or affects something or someone very hard, causing significant damage or impact.

Examples

La crisis económica golpeó con fuerza a las pequeñas empresas.

The economic crisis hit small businesses hard.

Emotional vs. Physical Devastation

Learners often confuse the emotional adjectives like 'desolado', 'destrozado', and 'destruida'. While similar, 'desolado' implies deep sadness from loss, 'destrozado' suggests being shattered, and 'destruida' means crushed. 'Devastado' can also mean physically ruined, unlike the others.

Related Translations

Learn Spanish with Inklingo

Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.