nounnounadjective
el desafortunado
unfortunate
Que tiene mala suerte o le va mal en algo.
Definition & meaning
Desafortunado means unfortunate or unlucky. It can describe a person who experiences bad luck, or an event or situation with an unhappy outcome.
It can also mean ill-advised, inappropriate, or unfortunate when describing a remark or action.
Grammar & Word origin
- An adjective that agrees with the noun it describes: desafortunado, desafortunada, desafortunados, desafortunadas.
- It consists of the prefix des-, indicating the opposite or absence of a quality, and afortunado , “fortunate” or “lucky.”
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonyms
- desafortunada — the feminine form of the same adjective, not a separate synonym.
- desdichado — unfortunate or unhappy; often emphasizes suffering or misery.
- desafortunado can also be expressed as de mala suerte , which specifically emphasizes bad luck.
- inoportuno — inappropriate or badly timed, especially for a remark or action.
Antonyms
- afortunado — fortunate or lucky.
- acertado — appropriate or well-judged, particularly for a remark or decision.
Common phrases & collocations
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Examples
Fue un desafortunado incidente durante nuestras vacaciones.adjective
It was an unfortunate incident during our vacation.
Ayudamos a los desafortunados tras la tormenta.noun
We helped the unfortunate after the storm.
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