acosado
“acosado” means “harassed” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
harassed
Also: bullied, hounded, cornered
📝 In Action
El actor se siente acosado por los fotógrafos.
B1The actor feels hounded by the photographers.
Se vio acosado por las deudas después de perder su empleo.
B2He found himself burdened by debts after losing his job.
El animal acosado no tenía dónde esconderse.
B1The cornered animal had nowhere to hide.
harassed
Also: bullied
📝 In Action
Ellos han acosado a mi hermano en la escuela.
B1They have bullied my brother at school.
Fue acosado injustamente por sus colegas.
B2He was unfairly harassed by his colleagues.
La policía ha acosado al sospechoso hasta que confesó.
B2The police pestered the suspect until he confessed.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: acosado
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence correctly describes a woman feeling harassed?
📚 More Resources
📚 Etymology▼
Derived from 'acoso', which comes from the word 'coso' (an enclosure or bullring). It originally described the act of chasing an animal into a trapped space during a hunt.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'acosado' always mean sexual harassment?
No. While it can refer to sexual harassment (acoso sexual), it broadly means to be hounded, bullied, or pestered in any context, such as by the police, by debts, or at school.
Can I use 'acosado' for an animal?
Yes! In fact, its origin is related to hunting. It describes an animal that has been chased into a corner and cannot escape.
Is 'acosado' a strong word?
Yes, it is quite strong. It suggests a lack of peace and a feeling of being trapped or victimized. Use it for serious situations.