Desmemoriado

Desmemoriado is an adjective in Spanish used to describe a person who has memory loss or who is prone to forgetting things. It is informal and not a clinical term; in medical contexts, words such as amnesia or pérdida de memoria are preferred. The word derives from the verb root memoria with the prefix des- (indicating negation or reversal) and the suffix -ado, forming a descriptor of someone who lacks memory or forgets.

Usage and nuances: Desmemoriado can refer to temporary lapses in memory or to more persistent forgetfulness, depending on context. In everyday speech it often implies unreliability or absent-mindedness, sometimes with a humorous or pejorative tone. It is gendered, with desmemoriado describing a masculine subject and desmemoriada a feminine one.

Relation to related terms: Olvidadizo is a close, common synonym that emphasizes frequent forgetting in daily life. Despistado focuses more on being distracted or off track rather than specifically memory-related lapses. Amnesia and pérdida de memoria are the clinical equivalents used in formal medical discussions.

Examples of use: “Se volvió desmemoriado después del estrés.” “El personaje es desmemoriado y olvida eventos clave.” The term is more typical in colloquial or narrative contexts than in formal medical writing.

See also: memoria, amnesia, olvidadizo, despistado.