Inklingo

How to Say "powerless" in Spanish

The Spanish word forpowerlessis impotenteB1 level.

English → SpanishB1
adjectiveB1
lacking the strength or authority to act
A small kitten sitting at the bottom of a tall cardboard box, looking up at the high walls.

Examples

Me siento impotente porque no puedo ayudar a mi amigo.

I feel helpless because I can't help my friend.

La policía se vio impotente ante la gran multitud.

The police were powerless before the large crowd.

Es una rabia impotente la que siento ahora mismo.

It is a helpless rage that I feel right now.

One word for everyone

This word doesn't change based on gender. You use 'impotente' whether you are describing a man, a woman, or a neutral concept.

Pairs with 'sentirse'

While you can use 'ser' (to be), it is much more common to use 'sentirse' (to feel) when talking about the emotion of helplessness.

Don't change the ending

Mistake:Me siento impotento.

Correction: Me siento impotente. This word always ends in 'e', never 'o' or 'a'.

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