arrugado
“arrugado” means “wrinkled” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
wrinkled
Also: creased, crumpled
📝 In Action
No puedes ir a la entrevista con la camisa tan arrugada.
A2You can't go to the interview with your shirt so wrinkled.
El papel estaba arrugado en el fondo de mi mochila.
B1The paper was crumpled at the bottom of my backpack.
Tiene el rostro arrugado por el sol y los años.
B2His face is wrinkled from the sun and the years.
chickened out
Also: intimidated
📝 In Action
Iba a saltar, pero al final se quedó arrugado.
C1He was going to jump, but in the end he chickened out.
No te quedes arrugado frente al jefe.
C1Don't let yourself get intimidated in front of the boss.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: arrugado
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence correctly describes a female's wrinkled shirt?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Derived from the Spanish noun 'arruga' (wrinkle), which comes from the Latin word 'eruga'. The term originally described the folds in skin or cloth.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use 'arrugado' for both paper and skin?
Yes! It works for anything that has folds or creases, whether it is a piece of paper, a shirt, or someone's forehead.
Is 'arrugado' related to the word for 'ironing'?
No, but its opposite is 'planchado' (ironed). You'll often see these two words together when talking about clothes.
Does it always mean 'scared' in every country?
No. While every Spanish speaker will understand 'arrugado' as 'wrinkled,' only some regions (like Argentina, Uruguay, or Chile) use it to mean 'scared' or 'intimidated.'