How to Say "painful" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “painful” is “doloroso” — use 'doloroso' when referring to something that causes physical pain or injury.
doloroso
doh-loh-ROH-sohdo.loˈɾo.so
Examples
La caída me provocó un doloroso esguince de tobillo.
The fall caused me a painful ankle sprain.
La herida en mi rodilla es muy dolorosa.
The wound on my knee is very painful.
Necesitas una operación, pero no será dolorosa.
You need an operation, but it won't be painful.
Adjective Agreement
As an adjective, 'doloroso' must change its ending to match the noun it describes: use -a for feminine words (una operación dolorosa) and -os/-as for plural words (los recuerdos dolorosos).
amargo
ah-MAR-goaˈmaɾɣo
Examples
Fue un momento amargo al recordar su partida.
Fue una amarga decepción para todo el equipo.
It was a bitter disappointment for the whole team.
Él guarda un amargo recuerdo de su último trabajo.
He keeps a bitter memory of his last job.
Lloraron lágrimas amargas tras perder el partido.
They cried bitter tears after losing the match.
Emphasis with Position
When used figuratively for emotions, 'amargo' can sometimes go before the noun to sound more poetic or emphasize the feeling (una amarga verdad).
Describing People
Mistake: “Saying 'Él es amargo' to mean someone is grumpy.”
Correction: While understood, it is much more natural to say 'Él es un amargado' (He is a bitter/resentful person).
Physical vs. Emotional Pain
Related Translations
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