Inklingo

How to Say "discontent" in Spanish

English → Spanish

descontento

/des-kon-TEN-toh//deskonˈtento/

nounB2general
Use 'descontento' to describe a general feeling of unhappiness or dissatisfaction within a population or group, often related to social or political issues.
A group of people standing together with crossed arms and unhappy facial expressions.

Examples

El descontento social creció durante la crisis.

Social discontent grew during the crisis.

Hay mucho descontento entre los empleados.

There is a lot of dissatisfaction among the employees.

El gobierno ignoró el descontento de la población.

The government ignored the population's unrest.

It's always Masculine

When used as a noun (the feeling), it is always 'el descontento', regardless of who is feeling it.

Wrong Article

Mistake: “Saying 'la descontento'.”

Correction: Always use 'el' because it is a masculine noun.

malestar

/mah-les-TAHR//malesˈtaɾ/

nounB2general
Use 'malestar' to refer to a general feeling of unease or discomfort, often stemming from a specific situation or event that is causing unhappiness.
A group of diverse people standing together in a public square looking unhappy and holding blank signs.

Examples

Hay mucho malestar social por la subida de los precios.

There is a lot of social unrest due to the price increases.

Sus palabras crearon malestar entre los empleados.

His words created unease among the employees.

El malestar político se nota en las calles.

The political discontent is noticeable in the streets.

Abstract Noun

When talking about society or politics, 'malestar' is often singular even if many people are unhappy.

Unrest vs. Discomfort

Mistake: “The people feel physical malestar.”

Correction: The people feel social malestar.

Choosing Between 'Descontento' and 'Malestar'

Learners often confuse 'descontento' and 'malestar' because both imply unhappiness. Remember that 'descontento' focuses on a feeling of dissatisfaction within a group, while 'malestar' highlights unease caused by a specific problem or event.

Related Translations

Learn Spanish with Inklingo

Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.