muy pobre
/mui pobɾe/from spelling rules
The English phrase "very poor" is translated into Spanish as muy pobre.
The phrase is used to describe someone or something that has very little money or few possessions. It is also worth noting that the word pobre can be used to express sympathy for someone, similar to the English "poor thing" or "poor guy" (for example, ¡Pobre de él!), regardless of whether the person is actually experiencing financial hardship.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective must agree in number with the noun it modifies. While the singular form is muy pobre, you must use the plural form muy pobres when referring to more than one person or thing.
Did you know?
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, calling someone pobre can be seen as a social stigma, leading people to use euphemisms like humilde meaning 'humble' instead.
- The word muy comes from the Latin multum, which is also the ancestor of the English word 'multi'.
- While 'very poor' in English describes a state, saying el pobre in Spanish can sometimes refer to the person themselves as a noun, effectively turning the adjective into a title of misfortune.
Examples in context
- Él era muy pobre.He was very poor.This sentence is useful for seeing the singular form muy pobre used with a subject.Tatoeba #793318 by Shishir, translation #292549 by CK
- Ellos son muy pobres.They're very poor.This sentence demonstrates the plural form of the phrase.Tatoeba #2418252 by hayastan, translation #2243704 by CK
- Cuando Mary era una niña, su familia era muy pobre.When Mary was a child, her family was very poor.This sentence shows how to use the singular form muy pobre when describing a family.Tatoeba #1422908 by peibolvig, translation #1356797 by CK
- La gente en esa región es muy pobre.The people in that region are very poor.
- Los habitantes viven en condiciones extremadamente pobres.The inhabitants live in extremely poor conditions.
- La organización se dedica a ayudar a las personas sumamente pobres.The organization is dedicated to helping extremely poor people.
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mateo and Elena are talking about a documentary they watched.
- MateoLa gente en ese pueblo es muy pobre.The people in that town are very poor.
- ElenaSí, no tienen acceso a agua limpia.Yes, they don't have access to clean water.
- MateoEs triste que sean tan muy pobre.It is sad that they are so very poor.
- ElenaDeberíamos donar algo para ayudarlos.We should donate something to help them.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries muy, pobre, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
