ingrato
/inˈɡɾato/
The English phrase "ungrateful" can be translated into Spanish using ingrato, desagradecido or malagradecido.
Meaning: not grateful (adj)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| ingrato | /inˈɡɾato/ |
| desagradecido | /desaɡɾadeˈθido/ /desaɡɾadeˈsido/ |
| malagradecido | /malaɡɾadeθido/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /malaɡɾadesido/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
All three forms are used to describe someone who lacks gratitude, but they differ in their tone and how they function in a sentence.
Which one should you use?
desagradecido is the most common and neutral way to express the concept of being ungrateful. malagradecido carries a stronger emotional tone of resentment or indignation. Unlike the other two, ingrato can function as both an adjective and a noun meaning "an ungrateful person".
How does it change in a sentence?
The forms desagradecido and malagradecido must agree in gender and number with the person being described. For the adjective ingrato, you must use the form ingrata to agree with a feminine subject.
How do you pronounce it?
/inˈɡɾato/
Did you know?
- In Spanish poetry and romantic songs, ingrato is often used to describe a cold or indifferent lover rather than someone who forgot to say 'thank you'.
- The term malagradecido is frequently used by parents or elders toward younger people to express a sense of betrayal regarding their upbringing.
- The word ingrato can be used to describe a difficult or unfavorable situation, such as un trabajo ingrato, meaning a thankless job.
Examples in context
- Cualquier cosa que le das a un ingrato nunca basta.Anything you give to an ungrateful person is never enough.This sentence illustrates using ingrato to refer to an ungrateful person.Tatoeba #9065206 by rafaeldejesus8199, translation #9065208 by rafaeldejesus8199
- Él fue ingrato aún después de todo lo que habíamos hecho.After all we had done, he was still ungrateful.This sentence shows how to use ingrato as an adjective to describe a person's character.Tatoeba #1367267 by marcelostockle, translation #270980 by CM
- Ella es una persona ingrataShe is an ungrateful person
- No seas malagradecido, te ayudé muchoDon't be ungrateful, I helped you a lot
- ¡Qué desagradecida eres!How ungrateful you are!
- ¡Qué caradura! No sabe agradecer nadaWhat an ungrateful person! He/she doesn't know how to appreciate anything
- Él es un hombre ingrato que nunca muestra agradecimiento por los favores recibidos.He is an ungrateful man who never shows gratitude for favors received
- No puedo creer lo malagradecida que fue después de todo lo que hice por ella.I can't believe how ungrateful she was after everything I did for her
- ¡No seas desagradecido! Ellos te brindaron su apoyo cuando más lo necesitabas.Don't be ungrateful! They offered you their support when you needed it the most
- No seas tan ingrato con tus padres.Don't be so ungrateful to your parents.
Example conversation
Sofía and Mateo are discussing a friend who doesn't say thank you.
- SofíaHice todo por él y no me dio las gracias.I did everything for him and he didn't thank me.
- MateoEs verdad, ese chico es muy ingrato.It's true, that boy is very ungrateful.
- SofíaMe molesta que no valore mi ayuda.It bothers me that he doesn't value my help.
- MateoNo deberías esforzarte tanto por él, Sofía.You shouldn't put in so much effort for him, Sofia.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “ungrateful” translations and entries ingrato, desagradecido, malagradecido, 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.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
