Inklingo

How to Say "hopeless" in Spanish

English → Spanish

desesperado

des-es-peh-RAH-doh/desespeˈɾaðo/

adjectiveB1general
Use 'desesperado' when referring to a person's feeling of having lost all hope, often leading to a state of intense distress or panic.
A storybook illustration of a small person sitting alone on the ground with their head buried in their knees, symbolizing extreme hopelessness.

Examples

Estaba tan desesperado que no sabía qué hacer.

He was so desperate that he didn't know what to do.

La madre se sentía desesperada buscando a su hijo perdido.

The mother felt desperate looking for her lost son.

Parecía desesperada por conseguir el trabajo.

She looked frantic (or desperate) to get the job.

Adjective Agreement

Since 'desesperado' is an adjective, its ending must match the noun it describes: 'desesperado' (masculine singular), 'desesperada' (feminine singular), 'desesperados' (masculine plural), and 'desesperadas' (feminine plural).

Origin as a Past Participle

This word is the past participle of the verb 'desesperar' (to despair). When used with 'estar' (to be, in a state), it describes the emotional state resulting from having lost hope.

Using 'Ser' instead of 'Estar'

Mistake: “Soy desesperado.”

Correction: Estoy desesperado. Use 'estar' because desperation is a temporary emotional state, not an inherent quality (which would use 'ser').

perdido

/pehr-DEE-doh//peɾˈdi.ðo/

adjectiveB2general
Use 'perdido' to describe a situation, cause, or thing that is beyond saving or has no chance of success, implying it's a lost cause.
A completely dilapidated, broken-down vintage car with missing parts, sitting abandoned in a dusty field, symbolizing a lost cause or hopeless situation.

Examples

Intentar arreglar ese coche viejo es un caso perdido.

Trying to fix that old car is a lost cause.

Desde que dejó los estudios, sus padres piensan que es un chico perdido.

Since he dropped out of school, his parents think he's a lost cause.

Use with 'Ser'

Unlike being physically lost (estar perdido), when you call someone or something a 'lost cause', you often use the verb 'ser' (e.g., 'es un caso perdido'), because you're describing a more permanent characteristic.

Desesperado vs. Perdido

Learners often confuse 'desesperado' and 'perdido' by using 'desesperado' for situations. Remember, 'desesperado' describes a person's emotional state of lacking hope, while 'perdido' refers to a situation or thing that is beyond help or recovery.

Related Translations

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