desesperado
/desespeˈɾado/
The English phrase "down bad" can be translated into Spanish as desesperado.
The term describes someone who is attracted at the expense of one's dignity.
Meaning: attracted at the expense of one's dignity (adj)
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective must agree in gender with the person being described, so use desesperada for a woman. The adjective takes the plural form desesperados when referring to a group of men or a mixed-gender group.
How do you pronounce it?
/desespeˈɾado/
Did you know?
- The word desesperado can also function as a noun to describe a 'desperado', a reckless outlaw or criminal, as seen in Western films.
- While 'down bad' is often used playfully in English, calling someone desesperado in a Spanish-speaking country can sometimes sound more insulting or serious than intended, as it can imply the person has truly lost all hope.
- If you use desesperado to describe a romantic situation, a person in Spain might instead use the slang term enganchado to mean they are 'hooked' or 'addicted' to a person, which captures a different side of being 'down bad'.
Examples in context
- Está desesperado por ella.He is down bad for her.
- Se ve muy desesperado con esa chica.He looks really down bad for that girl.
- No seas tan desesperado, por favor.Don't be so down bad, please.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about a guy's obsession with a girl.
- Javier¿Viste cómo la busca todo el tiempo?Did you see how he's always looking for her?
- MaríaSí, está desesperado por ella.Yes, he is down bad for her.
- JavierEs un poco vergonzoso verlo así.It's a bit embarrassing to see him like that.
- MaríaTotalmente, perdió toda su dignidad.Totally, he lost all his dignity.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry desesperado, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
