Adjective
/dɛs.a.tiˈna.ðo/
"Desatinado" is an adjective used to describe someone or something lacking good sense or judgment. It can refer to actions, decisions, or behaviors that are seen as misguided, irrational, or imprudent. In the Spanish language, it is often used in both oral and written contexts, although it may appear more commonly in formal writing or literature. Its usage frequency is moderate, as it is not a term found in daily casual conversation but is recognized and understood by those familiar with more formal or literary Spanish.
The misguided comment from the politician caused a lot of criticism.
Tomar una decisión desatinada puede llevar a graves consecuencias.
Making a misguided decision can lead to serious consequences.
Su comportamiento desatinado arruinó la reunión.
While "desatinado" is not commonly found in many idiomatic expressions, it can still be effectively used in various contexts to convey a sense of irrationality or imprudence. Here are a few examples:
Acting irrationally is never a good idea.
No debes dejarte llevar por pensamientos desatinados.
You shouldn’t let yourself be carried away by misguided thoughts.
Su desatinada forma de pensar lo llevó a la ruina.
His irrational way of thinking led him to ruin.
La desatinada respuesta del estudiante generó risas en la clase.
The student's unreasonable response generated laughter in the class.
A veces, una decisión desatinada puede abrir nuevas oportunidades.
"Desatinado" originates from the combination of the prefix "de-" which can imply "removal" or "negation," and the root word "satinar," derived from "satinado" (satin) which means to achieve a smooth, shiny surface. In this sense, "desatinado" conveys the idea of lacking smoothness or clarity in judgment, leading to misguided behavior.