amado
/ah-MAH-doh/
beloved
Depicting something that is 'dear to the heart,' illustrating 'amado' as an adjective meaning beloved.
amado(Adjective)
beloved
?dear to the heart
,loved
?receiving affection
darling
?affectionate term
📝 In Action
Este es mi libro más amado; lo he leído diez veces.
A2This is my most beloved book; I have read it ten times.
Mi amado esposo siempre me apoya.
B1My beloved husband always supports me.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender and Number Agreement
Like all Spanish adjectives, 'amado' must match the gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural) of the person or thing it describes: 'amada' (f), 'amados' (m. pl.), 'amadas' (f. pl.).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting Agreement
Mistake: "La ciudad es amado por sus habitantes."
Correction: La ciudad es amada por sus habitantes. (Since 'ciudad' is feminine, 'amado' must become 'amada'.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Positioning
When used before the noun (e.g., 'mi amado padre'), it often sounds more affectionate or literary. When used after (e.g., 'el padre amado'), it emphasizes the quality of being loved.
Illustrating 'amado' as a noun, referring to 'a loved person' or the beloved.
amado(Noun)
beloved
?a loved person
,loved one
?a dear person
lover
?romantic partner (less common than 'amante')
📝 In Action
El amado regresó después de un largo viaje.
B1The beloved returned after a long journey.
Ella espera la llamada de su amado.
B2She is waiting for the call from her loved one.
💡 Grammar Points
Used as a Noun
When used as a noun, 'amado' stands alone, replacing the name of the person. You must use an article (el, un, mi, su, etc.) before it.
⭐ Usage Tips
Feminine Form
To refer to a female loved one, use the feminine noun form: 'la amada'.
Visualizing 'amado' as the past participle, meaning 'loved' (as in 'has been loved').
📝 In Action
Yo he amado a esa mujer toda mi vida.
A1I have loved that woman all my life.
Ellos no habían amado antes de conocerse.
B1They had not loved before meeting each other.
💡 Grammar Points
Forming Perfect Tenses
The form 'amado' is essential for creating 'perfect' tenses, which describe actions completed in the past. You combine the verb 'haber' (conjugated) + 'amado' (which never changes form in this construction).
It Stays the Same
When used with 'haber,' the participle 'amado' is invariable (it always stays 'amado,' even if the subject is female or plural): 'Nosotros hemos amado' (We have loved).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Changing the Participle
Mistake: "Ellas han amadas mucho."
Correction: Ellas han amado mucho. (The participle doesn't change when used with 'haber'.)
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: amado
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'amado' as a Participle (part of a verb phrase)?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'amado' and 'querido'?
'Amado' (beloved, loved) often implies a deeper, more passionate, or formal kind of love, perhaps in a literary sense. 'Querido' (dear, wanted) is much more common and is used broadly for friends, family, and as a standard greeting ('Mi querido amigo').