Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| pobreza | /poˈbɾeθa/ /poˈbɾesa/ |
feminine |
| mishiadura | /misjaduɾa/ (from spelling rules) | Argentina, feminine |
| egestad | /exestad/ (from spelling rules) | feminine |
pobreza is the most common and neutral term for the quality or state of being poor. Other terms exist depending on the severity or context: miseria conveys extreme destitution, indigencia refers to extreme poverty often associated with homelessness and penuria expresses a state of scarcity or deprivation.
What does it mean word for word?
pobreza is formed from the adjective pobre (poor) and the suffix -eza, which creates abstract nouns denoting a state or quality.
Which one should you use?
While pobreza is the general term, miseria and indigencia are used to highlight more severe or formal aspects of destitution. penuria is specifically used when the focus is on scarcity.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Argentina, mishiadura is a colloquialism used to refer to extreme poverty or a state of having very little. Additionally, the phrase pobreza estructural is used in Argentina to refer to chronic or systemic poverty. In Mexico, the word carencia is often used when discussing poverty to highlight the lack or absence of basic necessities.
How does it change in a sentence?
pobreza is a feminine noun and is used with the feminine article la.
How do you pronounce it?
/poˈbɾeθa/
Did you know?
- While pobreza refers to a lack of money, the adjective pobre is frequently used in Spanish to express pity or tenderness, such as calling a child pobrecito even if they are wealthy.
- While miseria translates to 'misery' in English, in Spanish it is often used as a technical synonym for extreme pobreza rather than just a feeling of sadness.
- The Spanish word pobreza shares an ancient root with the Latin word pauper, which is the direct ancestor of the English word 'pauper'.
Examples in context
- Tom creció en la pobreza.Tom grew up in poverty.This sentence shows how to describe someone growing up in a state of pobreza.Tatoeba #1386524 by marcelostockle, translation #681772 by Source_VOA
- La pobreza lo hizo robar.Poverty drove him to steal.This sentence illustrates how pobreza can be a driving force for actions.Tatoeba #3954940 by gianich73, translation #303175 by CM
- Ellos viven en la pobreza.They live in poverty.This sentence is an example of people living in a state of pobreza.Tatoeba #1575331 by marcelostockle, translation #307476 by al_ex_an_der
- La pobreza es un problema mundial que debe abordarse urgentemente.Poverty is a global problem that must be addressed urgently.
- 46 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two colleagues discuss a news report about social issues.
- Elena¿Viste el reportaje sobre la pobreza extrema?Did you see the report about extreme poverty?
- JavierSí, es una realidad muy triste para muchos.Yes, it is a very sad reality for many.
- ElenaEl gobierno debe hacer algo para ayudar.The government must do something to help.
- JavierEspero que propongan soluciones pronto.I hope they propose solutions soon.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “poverty” translations and entries pobreza, egestad, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries egestad, pobreza, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
