pobrecito
/pobɾeˈθito/
The English phrase "poor baby boy" can be translated into Spanish as pobrecito.
pobrecito is an expression of pity or sympathy used when a young boy is suffering or unfortunate. While it literally refers to a "poor little one", it is frequently used as a general expression of sympathy for any child or even an animal.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form of the word changes depending on the subject: use pobrecita if the subject is a female baby or girl, and use the plural form pobrecitos for a group of boys or a mixed group.
How do you pronounce it?
/pobɾeˈθito/
Did you know?
- While pobrecito expresses pity, the word pobre can also be used as an intensifier in phrases like ¡pobre de ti!, which translates to 'woe to you' or 'you're in trouble'.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, calling an adult pobrecito or pobrecita is a common way to mock them or patronize them by treating them like a helpless child.
- The word pobre originates from the Latin 'pauper', which shares a root with the English word 'pauper', meaning a very poor person.
Examples in context
- Pobrecito, se cayó en el parque.Poor little thing, he fell in the park.
- ¡Ay, pobrecito! Tiene mucha fiebre.Oh, poor baby! He has a high fever.
- El pobrecito no paraba de llorar.The poor little boy wouldn't stop crying.
Example conversation
María is comforting Daniel's young son who is feeling unwell.
- DanielEl niño tiene mucha tos.The boy has a lot of coughing.
- María¡Ay, pobrecito! ¿Cómo puedo ayudar?Oh, poor baby! How can I help?
- DanielSolo necesita descansar un poco.He just needs to rest a little.
- MaríaEspero que se mejore pronto.I hope he feels better soon.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry pobrecito, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries pobrecito, CC BY-SA 4.0.
