desaliñado

scruffy

adjective deh-sah-lee-NYAH-doh Rare

Also means

slovenly

Usage Note

Desaliñado describes a person or appearance that is untidy, unkempt, or dishevelled — hair, clothes, or general presentation that lacks care. The root noun aliño means seasoning or neatness (depending on context), and the prefix des- reverses it. It refers to appearance rather than dirt (sucio), so it is closer to 'scruffy' than 'dirty'. The feminine form is desaliñada, and the noun form is desaliño (untidiness, slovenliness).

Examples

"Llegó a la reunión con aspecto desaliñado."

Natural Translation

He arrived at the meeting looking scruffy.

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