triste
/ˈtɾiste/
The Spanish word triste means "sad" in English.
triste is used to describe a person or thing that is feeling or showing sorrow or unhappiness. While triste describes a feeling of sadness, tristeza is the noun used to refer to the concept of sadness itself.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, apachurrado/a is used to describe someone who feels crushed or emotionally overwhelmed. In Spain and Central America, abatido/a is common to describe a person who feels emotionally drained, defeated or deeply affected.
How does it change in a sentence?
triste is a gender-neutral adjective, meaning it remains the same whether it is describing a masculine or feminine noun. To agree with plural nouns, use the plural form tristes.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈtɾiste/
Did you know?
- If you describe a meal as triste in some Spanish-speaking cultures, you aren't saying it makes you cry, but that it is poor, meager, or lacking in flavor.
- The English word 'tristful', meaning sorrowful, is a direct relative of triste through their shared Latin ancestor.
- While triste is a general term, the phrase estar triste denotes a temporary mood, whereas ser triste describes someone with a naturally melancholy personality.
Examples in context
- Estoy muy triste.I am very sad.
- Ella está muy triste hoy.She is very sad today.
- Esa es una historia muy triste.That is a very sad story.
- No me siento triste por eso.I don't feel sad about that.
Example conversation
Lucía and Alejandro are talking about a movie.
- LucíaLa película fue muy triste.The movie was very sad.
- AlejandroSí, yo también lloré.Yes, I cried too.
- LucíaMe siento triste por el perro.I feel sad for the dog.
- AlejandroNo estés triste, Lucía.Don't be sad, Lucía.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry triste, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries triste, CC BY-SA 4.0.
