Spanish word

desesperado

Pronunciation

IPA/desespeˈɾaðo/

Meaning

  • adjectivedesperate

Example

Ella está desesperada por ayudar a su hijo.

She is desperate to help her son.

Illustration for desesperado (desperate)

More examples

No te pongas desesperado, aún hay opciones.

Don't become desperate, there are still options.

Core concept

Person clutching a rope as floodwater rises.

Common phrases

  • estar desesperado

    be desperate

  • ponerse desesperado

    become desperate

  • sentirse desesperado

    feel desperate

Similar words

preocupado: Uneasy about future events, worried and unable to relax.
ansioso: Tense and restless from nervous anticipation or worry.
inquieto: Physically restless and unable to sit still or stay calm.
angustiado: Deeply distressed and weighed down by intense worry or sorrow.

Definition in Spanish

Describe un estado de gran urgencia o angustia por faltar esperanza o recursos para resolver algo.

Word origin

Adjective formed from the verb desesperar and Latin desperare (de- 'without' + sperare 'to hope'), originally meaning to lose hope.

Usage tips

  • Commonly used with estar to mark a temporary urgent state, often in the pattern 'estar desesperado por + infinitive/noun' to mean 'desperate to/for' and stronger than preocupado or ansioso.

Other meanings

  • hopelessadjective
  • in dire straitsadjective

Opposites

  • esperanzadohopefuladjective
  • calmadocalmadjective

Related words

Word lists with this word