What it's NOT
destitute does NOT translate to destituido.
To say "destituido" in English, use dismissed / removed.
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False cognate · False friend
destitute
Does NOT mean destituido
It means extremely poor / without resources
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
What it IS
destitute means extremely poor / without resources.
Why it's confused
Spanish "destituir" means to formally remove someone from their position. English "destitute" describes someone in a state of extreme poverty, without basic resources to live on.
How it's pronounced
destituteDÉS-ti-tut
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Examples of correct use
English
The flood left families destitute.
Spanish
La inundación dejó a familias en la indigencia.
English
He died destitute.
Spanish
Murió en la miseria.
A trick to remember it
Destitute = extremely poor. Removed from a position (Spanish "destituido") = dismissed.
Mini quiz
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Frequently asked questions
What does "destitute" mean in English?
"Destitute" means "extremely poor / without resources". It looks a lot like "destituido", which is exactly why it gets confused, but they don't mean the same thing.
How do you say "destituido" in English?
To say "destituido" in English, use "dismissed / removed". If you use "destitute" instead, you would actually be saying "extremely poor / without resources".
Do "destitute" and "destituido" mean the same thing?
Spanish "destituir" means to formally remove someone from their position. English "destitute" describes someone in a state of extreme poverty, without basic resources to live on.
Other confusing false friends
More confusing false friends
Library, embarrassed, actually... the full list of words that look the same but mean something different.
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