How to Say "misfortune" in Spanish
The Spanish word for “misfortune” is “desgracia” — A2 level. This is a very common word in everyday Spanish.
Examples
Fue una desgracia que se perdieran todas las cosechas por la tormenta.
It was a misfortune that all the crops were lost due to the storm.
La familia sufrió una gran desgracia cuando se quemó su casa.
The family suffered a great tragedy when their house burned down.
¡Qué desgracia! Se me olvidaron las llaves dentro del coche.
What bad luck! I forgot my keys inside the car.
Using 'Por desgracia'
When you want to express the idea of 'unfortunately,' Spanish speakers use the fixed phrase 'por desgracia' (or the synonym 'desafortunadamente').
Confusing 'desgracia' and 'mala suerte'
Mistake: “Using 'desgracia' for minor bad luck (e.g., 'Perdí mi bus, ¡qué desgracia!').”
Correction: Use 'mala suerte' (bad luck) for small, everyday annoyances. 'Desgracia' usually refers to a serious accident or tragedy.
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