How to Say "poignant" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “poignant” is “conmovedor” — use 'conmovedor' when 'poignant' refers to something that evokes a strong emotional response, often sadness, tenderness, or deep feeling, in a touching way.
Use 'conmovedor' when 'poignant' refers to something that evokes a strong emotional response, often sadness, tenderness, or deep feeling, in a touching way.
Learn more →Use 'patético' when 'poignant' implies evoking sadness or regret, often with a sense of pity or being pathetic; it carries a stronger negative connotation than 'conmovedor'.
Learn more →kon-mo-beh-DORkommoðeˈðoɾ
Examples
La historia de la amistad entre los dos personajes fue increíblemente conmovedora.
The story of the friendship between the two characters was incredibly moving.
La película tuvo un final muy conmovedor.
The movie had a very touching ending.
Escuchamos un relato conmovedor sobre la vida de los refugiados.
We heard a moving story about the lives of the refugees.
Fue conmovedor ver a los dos hermanos reunirse después de tantos años.
It was heart-stirring to see the two brothers reunite after so many years.
Adding 'a' for Feminine
Unlike adjectives ending in 'e' (like 'triste'), words ending in 'dor' need an 'a' at the end when describing feminine things. Use 'conmovedor' for masculine and 'conmovedora' for feminine.
Placement for Emphasis
Usually, this word goes after the thing it describes (un libro conmovedor). If you put it before (un conmovedor libro), it sounds more poetic and emphasizes the emotion.
Using 'emocionante' for 'moving'
Mistake: “La película fue muy emocionante (when you mean it made you cry).”
Correction: La película fue muy conmovedora.
patético
Examples
Su intento fallido de impresionar a la audiencia resultó ser un momento patético.
His failed attempt to impress the audience turned out to be a pathetic moment.
Choosing Between 'Conmovedor' and 'Patético'
Learners often confuse 'conmovedor' and 'patético' because both can relate to sadness. Remember that 'conmovedor' is generally positive or neutral, focusing on being deeply touching, while 'patético' leans towards evoking pity or a sense of something being pitifully sad.
Related Translations
Learn Spanish with Inklingo
Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.