Spanish word

miseria

Pronunciation

IPA/miˈseɾja/

Meaning

  • feminine nounpoverty

Example

Vivimos en miseria.

We live in poverty.

Illustration for miseria (poverty)

More examples

Lograron salir de la miseria después de varios años.

They managed to get out of poverty after several years.

Core concept

A person in rags begging outside a dilapidated shelter.

Common phrases

  • vivir en la miseria

    live in poverty

  • estar en la miseria

    be in poverty

  • salir de la miseria

    get out of poverty

Similar words

pobreza: Limited financial resources that leave people unable to comfortably meet regular expenses.
necesidad: Deficiency of everyday essentials or cash required to cover basic daily needs.

Definition in Spanish

Pobreza extrema; también se usa en sentido figurado para hablar de condiciones muy malas.

Word origin

From Latin miser 'wretched' plus the suffix -ia, forming an abstract noun that Spanish uses to denote wretchedness and extreme poverty.

Usage tips

  • Often stronger than pobreza; vivir en la miseria signals extreme destitution and its figurative use can be purposely exaggerated or ironic.

Other meanings

  • miserynoun

Opposites

Related words

  • miserablemiserableadjective
  • miserablementemiserablyadverb

Word lists with this word