abandonado
“abandonado” means “neglected” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
neglected, run-down
Also: derelict
📝 In Action
Esta fábrica ha estado abandonada por veinte años.
A2This factory has been abandoned (run-down) for twenty years.
Compramos un coche muy abandonado, pero lo arreglaremos.
B1We bought a very neglected car, but we will fix it.
deserted, forsaken
Also: left in the lurch
📝 In Action
Se sintió totalmente abandonado cuando su socio se fue.
B1He felt totally deserted when his partner left.
Temía ser abandonada por sus amigos.
B2She was afraid of being forsaken by her friends.
outcast
Also: waif
📝 In Action
La sociedad trata a los sin techo como abandonados.
C1Society treats the homeless as outcasts.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: abandonado
Question 1 of 2
Which Spanish sentence correctly uses 'abandonado' to describe a current state of neglect?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word comes from the verb 'abandonar,' which arrived in Spanish via French (abandonner). Its ultimate root is Germanic, combining 'a' (to) and 'bandon' (power or jurisdiction). To 'abandon' originally meant to give something over to someone else's control.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'abandonado' the same as 'solo' (alone)?
Not quite. While an 'abandonado' is usually alone, 'solo' just means being without company. 'Abandonado' specifically implies that someone *else* caused the loneliness by leaving or neglecting them, carrying a stronger sense of sadness or dereliction.
How do I know if 'abandonado' is an adjective or part of a verb phrase?
If it follows 'ser' or 'estar' and agrees with the noun (e.g., 'la mesa está abandonada'), it is acting as an adjective describing a state. If it is used with the verb 'haber' (e.g., 'ha abandonado'), it is the past participle forming a compound tense of the verb 'to abandon'.