How to Say "untidy" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “untidy” is “desordenado” — use this word when referring to a general lack of order or neatness, like a messy room or cluttered desk..
desordenado
/des-or-deh-NAH-doh//desoɾðeˈnaðo/
Examples
Mi dormitorio está muy desordenado hoy.
My bedroom is very messy today.
Él es un chico desordenado, pero muy simpático.
He is a disorganized boy, but very nice.
Llevar una vida desordenada puede causar mucho estrés.
Leading a disorganized life can cause a lot of stress.
Matching the word to the object
Since this is a describing word, the ending must change to match the gender. Use 'desordenado' for masculine things (el cuarto) and 'desordenada' for feminine things (la mesa).
Being vs. Looking
Use 'ser' if a person is naturally a messy person (Es desordenado). Use 'estar' if a room just happens to be messy right now (Está desordenado).
Using the wrong 'To Be'
Mistake: “Mi cuarto es desordenado.”
Correction: Mi cuarto está desordenado. Use 'estar' because a room being messy is usually a temporary state, not its permanent personality!
descuidado
/des-kwee-DA-do//des.kwi.ˈða.ðo/
Examples
El jardín está un poco descuidado.
The garden is a bit neglected.
Llevaba el pelo largo y un aspecto algo descuidado.
He had long hair and a somewhat untidy appearance.
La casa se ve descuidada porque nadie vive allí.
The house looks messy/neglected because nobody lives there.
Using it with 'se ve'
To say something 'looks' neglected, we often use 'se ve descuidado' or 'parece descuidado'.
Matching Plurals
If you are talking about multiple things, remember to add an 's'. For example: 'Los edificios están descuidados'.
Confusing with 'sucio'
Mistake: “La habitación está descuidada (meaning it's just dirty).”
Correction: Use 'sucio' for dirt. Use 'descuidado' for things that lack maintenance or care over time, like a garden with weeds.
General Mess vs. Neglected Appearance
Related Translations
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