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How to Say "insignificant" in Spanish

English → Spanish

insignificante

/een-seeg-nee-fee-KAHN-teh//insiɣnifiˈkante/

adjectiveB1general
Use 'insignificante' when referring to something that is minor, unimportant, or lacks significance in a general sense.
A tiny, plain pebble sitting next to a large, sparkling gemstone.

Examples

No te preocupes por eso, es un detalle insignificante.

Don't worry about that, it's an insignificant detail.

Me sentí insignificante ante la inmensidad del océano.

I felt insignificant before the vastness of the ocean.

One Form for All

This adjective ends in '-e', which means it stays the same regardless of whether you are describing a masculine or feminine noun.

Don't add 'a'

Mistake: “una cosa insignificanta”

Correction: una cosa insignificante

despreciable

/des-pre-SYAH-bleh//despreˈθjaβle/

adjectiveC1general
Use 'despreciable' when something is so unimportant that it can be disregarded or considered negligible, often implying a very small amount or effect.
A single tiny grain of sand sitting next to a very large, smooth beach stone.

Examples

El riesgo de accidente es prácticamente despreciable.

The risk of an accident is practically negligible.

Hubo una cantidad despreciable de lluvia este mes.

There was an insignificant amount of rain this month.

Insignificante vs. Despreciable

Learners often confuse 'insignificante' and 'despreciable'. While both mean unimportant, 'despreciable' implies a level of negligibility, suggesting something is so minor it can be ignored. 'Insignificante' is more general for minor details.

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