Olvidadizo vs. desmemoriado
The Spanish words 'olvidadizo' and 'desmemoriado' both mean 'forgetful', but they are used in slightly different contexts.
Olvidadizo
'Olvidadizo' is an adjective used to describe someone who is prone to forgetting things frequently. This term is generally used for someone who might habitually forget everyday tasks or small details.
Mi abuelo es muy olvidadizo, siempre pierde sus llaves.
(My grandpa is very forgetful, he always loses his keys.)
Soy bastante olvidadizo con los cumpleaños.
(I'm quite forgetful with birthdays.)
Cuando estoy estresado, me vuelvo más olvidadizo.
(When I'm stressed, I become more forgetful.)
Desmemoriado
'Desmemoriado' is also an adjective that describes someone forgetful, but it implies a lack of memory retention capacity. It may suggest that the person has trouble remembering things in a broader sense, not just frequent but possibly important memories as well.
Después del accidente, se volvió desmemoriado y olvidaba cosas importantes.
(After the accident, he became forgetful and would forget important things.)
Mi amigo es tan desmemoriado que no recuerda dónde estacionó su coche.
(My friend is so forgetful that he doesn't remember where he parked his car.)
Mi tío siempre ha sido un poco desmemoriado; a veces no recuerda sus propios números de teléfono.
(My uncle has always been a bit forgetful; sometimes he doesn’t remember his own phone numbers.)
Summary
While both 'olvidadizo' and 'desmemoriado' mean 'forgetful', 'olvidadizo' usually refers to someone who tends to forget day-to-day details or small tasks frequently. On the other hand, 'desmemoriado' indicates a broader issue with memory retention, suggesting frequent lapses in remembering even significant information. Choosing the right word depends on the context and severity of the forgetfulness being described.