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miseria

misery

noun mee-ZEH-ryah Rare
Mind & Emotions Emotions

Origin: From Latin miseria (wretchedness), from miser (wretched).

Also means

poverty

Usage Note

Miseria is feminine and conveys both emotional wretchedness and material poverty (vivere in miseria — to live in poverty). As an interjection, miseria! expresses frustration or dismay, similar to 'damn it!' It is not a false friend in the way morbido is, but learners should note its range from literal destitution to everyday exasperation.

Examples

"Vivere in miseria è una condizione terribile."

Natural Translation

Living in misery is a terrible condition.

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