Spanish word

pobreza

Pronunciation

IPA/poˈβɾeθa/

Meaning

  • feminine nounpoverty

Example

La pobreza afecta a muchas familias.

Poverty affects many families.

Illustration for pobreza (poverty)

More examples

Muchas familias trabajan para salir de la pobreza a través de la educación.

Many families work to get out of poverty through education.

Core concept

Severe shortage of money and goods needed for food, housing, and healthcare.

Common phrases

  • salir de la pobreza

    get out of poverty

  • pobreza infantil

    child poverty

  • programas contra la pobreza

    anti-poverty programs

Similar words

miseria: Extreme destitution that devastates everyday life and leaves most needs unmet.
carencia: Lack of a particular necessary item or condition required for adequate living.
escasez: Insufficient supply of a particular resource or commodity for demand or use.
indigencia: Inability to obtain even the minimum resources needed to survive and live.

Definition in Spanish

Situación en la que faltan recursos económicos suficientes para cubrir las necesidades básicas como la alimentación, la vivienda y la salud.

Word origin

It derives from the adjective pobre (from Latin pauper) plus the noun-forming suffix -eza, yielding an abstract noun meaning lack of wealth or resources.

Usage tips

  • The noun pobreza appears mainly in formal contexts such as news or policy reports, while everyday speakers often say estar sin dinero or no llegar a fin de mes to describe lacking money.

Other meanings

  • destitutionnoun

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word