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pobre

poor

adjective POH-breh Less Common
Descriptions & Qualities Values

Origin: From Latin pauper, 'poor'.

Also means

unfortunate

Usage Note

Pobre changes meaning depending on its position: una persona pobre means financially poor, while un pobre hombre (before the noun) expresses pity — 'a poor (unfortunate) man'. This pre/post-noun shift is an important nuance for learners. Its comparative is más pobre, and the noun form la pobreza means 'poverty'.

Examples

"Esa familia es muy pobre."

Natural Translation

That family is very poor.

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