acostado
/ah-kohs-TAH-doh/
lying down
Acostado (lying down) describes the physical state of being horizontal and resting.
acostado(Adjective)
lying down
?Describing someone's position
,in bed
?Used to describe someone resting or asleep
horizontal
?Describing the position of an object
📝 In Action
Mi padre está acostado en el sofá viendo la tele.
A1My father is lying down on the sofa watching TV.
¿Por qué estás acostado tan temprano? ¿Te sientes mal?
A2Why are you in bed so early? Do you feel sick?
Dejó la botella acostada para que no se secara el corcho.
B1He left the bottle lying down so the cork wouldn't dry out.
💡 Grammar Points
State vs. Action
Use 'estar acostado' to describe the current state of being (the position). This is different from the action of 'acostarse' (to lie down, to go to bed).
Agreement
Like all Spanish adjectives, 'acostado' must match the person or thing it describes: 'acostada' (f. sing.), 'acostados' (m. plural), 'acostadas' (f. plural).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using Ser Instead of Estar
Mistake: "Mi perro es acostado."
Correction: Mi perro está acostado. (Use 'estar' because 'lying down' is a temporary position or state, not a permanent characteristic.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Going to Bed
To talk about the action of going to bed, use the reflexive verb 'acostarse': 'Me voy a acostar' (I am going to bed).
When used as a past participle, acostado means the action of putting someone to bed has been completed (put to bed).
acostado(Past Participle)
put to bed
?As the result of the action 'acostar'
,laid down
?Referring to an object or person placed horizontally
📝 In Action
La niñera ya ha acostado a los gemelos.
B1The nanny has already put the twins to bed.
El viento fuerte había acostado la cosecha de maíz.
C1The strong wind had laid down the corn crop.
💡 Grammar Points
Forming Perfect Tenses
This form is combined with the verb 'haber' (to have) to create perfect tenses: 'He acostado' (I have put to bed).
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: acostado
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'acostado' to describe someone's current position?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'acostado' and 'acostarse'?
'Acostarse' is the action of lying down or going to bed (e.g., 'Me voy a acostar'). 'Acostado' is the description of the resulting state—the position of being horizontal (e.g., 'Estoy acostado').
How do I use 'acostado' if I am a woman?
Since 'acostado' is an adjective, you must make it agree with your gender. A woman would say 'Estoy acostada' (feminine ending -a).