Spanish word

despistado

Pronunciation

IPA/despisˈtaðo/

Meaning

  • adjectiveabsent-minded

Example

Soy despistado y olvido las llaves.

I'm absent-minded and I keep forgetting my keys.

Illustration for despistado (absent-minded)

More examples

No seas despistado y revisa el correo antes de salir.

Don't be absent-minded and check your email before you leave.

Core concept

Person searching empty pockets while a set of keys sits on a nearby table.

Common phrases

  • ser despistado

    be absent-minded

  • estar despistado

    be inattentive

Similar words

distraído: Gets distracted quickly and notices little of the immediate environment.
olvidadizo: Forgetful by nature about items, schedules, and promises.
desatento: Neglects paying attention, causing missed parts of conversations or instructions.

Definition in Spanish

Que muestra falta de atención habitual y tiende a olvidar objetos o pasos sencillos del día a día.

Word origin

From the verb despistar (des- 'away from' + pista 'track or clue') with the adjective-forming suffix -ado, literally 'off the track' and used for someone mentally off the trail.

Usage tips

  • Ser despistado describes a habitual tendency while estar despistado indicates a temporary lapse, and adding un poco makes the admission more self-effacing.

Other meanings

  • scatterbrainnoun

Opposites

  • concentradoattentiveadjective

Related words

  • despistelapsenoun

Word lists with this word