armado
/ar-MAH-doh/
armed
Armado, meaning "armed," describes someone carrying weapons.
📝 In Action
El policía estaba armado con una pistola.
A2The police officer was armed with a pistol.
Encontramos a tres personas armadas en la zona.
B1We found three armed people in the area.
Necesitamos un vehículo blindado y armado para la misión.
B2We need an armored and armed vehicle for the mission.
💡 Grammar Points
Agreement is Key
As an adjective, 'armado' must match the thing it describes in both masculine/feminine and singular/plural: 'el hombre armado' (m, sing), 'las mujeres armadas' (f, pl).
Origin: The Past Participle
'Armado' is the past participle of the verb 'armar' (to arm). This means it can also be used with 'haber' to form perfect tenses, like 'Hemos armado' (We have armed).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting Agreement
Mistake: "La gente estaba armado."
Correction: La gente estaba armada. (The word 'gente' [people] is feminine in Spanish, so the adjective should be feminine when describing it collectively.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Use with 'Estar' vs. 'Ser'
Use 'estar armado' to describe a temporary state (carrying a weapon right now). Use 'ser armado' to describe a permanent characteristic (e.g., 'El ejército es armado' - The army is armed).
Armado also means "assembled," referring to things like furniture that have been put together.
armado(adjective)
assembled
?furniture, machinery
reinforced
?concrete structures (hormigón armado)
,set up
?plot or plan
📝 In Action
Compramos un mueble que ya venía armado.
B1We bought a piece of furniture that already came assembled.
El hormigón armado es muy resistente.
B2Reinforced concrete is very resistant.
Tienen un plan muy bien armado para la reunión.
C1They have a very well set-up/constructed plan for the meeting.
💡 Grammar Points
Passive Voice Connection
When used with 'ser' or 'estar,' this sense often translates the passive idea: 'La mesa fue armada por mí' means 'The table was assembled by me.'
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'Armar' for Small Objects
Mistake: "Armé mi teléfono nuevo."
Correction: Monté mi teléfono nuevo. (While 'armar' works for large structures, 'montar' is often better for assembling smaller items like computers or phones.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Figurative Use
You can use 'armado' figuratively to describe complex plans, plots, or even excuses that have been carefully put together, like 'una excusa bien armada' (a well-constructed excuse).
As a noun, un armado refers to an "armed man."
📝 In Action
Los armados tomaron el edificio durante la noche.
B2The armed men/forces took the building during the night.
Hubo un enfrentamiento entre la policía y un grupo de armados.
C1There was a confrontation between the police and a group of armed individuals.
💡 Grammar Points
Adjective acting as a Noun
This is a common Spanish structure where an adjective ('armed') describes a general group of people, so you just add the article: 'los armados' means 'the armed ones/people'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Context is Crucial
In reporting, 'los armados' is often used as a neutral way to describe combatants without assigning them specific labels like 'soldiers' or 'terrorists'.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: armado
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence uses 'armado' in the sense of 'built or constructed'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'armado' always about weapons?
No. While its most common meaning is 'carrying a weapon,' it is also the past participle of the verb 'armar,' which means 'to assemble' or 'to build.' So, 'armado' can also mean 'assembled' or 'put together,' especially when talking about furniture or plans.
What is the feminine form of 'armado'?
The feminine singular form is 'armada.' The plurals are 'armados' (masculine) and 'armadas' (feminine). Remember, it must always match the noun it describes.