atascado
/ah-tahs-KAH-doh/
stuck
When something is atascado, it is physically stuck and cannot move, like a car trapped in the mud.
atascado(adjective)
stuck
?physically unable to move
,clogged
?pipes or drains
jammed
?machinery or traffic
,blocked
?a path or tube
📝 In Action
El desagüe está completamente atascado y no pasa el agua.
A2The drain is completely clogged and the water won't go through.
Estuvimos atascados en el tráfico por dos horas.
B1We were stuck in traffic for two hours.
La puerta del coche se quedó atascada y no pude abrirla.
A2The car door got jammed and I couldn't open it.
💡 Grammar Points
Adjective from a Verb
This word is the 'past participle' of the verb 'atascar' (to clog or jam). It works like an adjective, describing the state of being clogged or stuck.
Using ESTAR
Because 'atascado' describes a temporary state (a pipe wasn't always clogged), it almost always pairs with the verb 'estar' (to be) to show that current condition: 'El tubo está atascado.'
❌ Common Pitfalls
Mixing up SER and ESTAR
Mistake: "El baño es atascado."
Correction: El baño está atascado. (Use 'estar' because being stuck is a temporary state, not a permanent characteristic.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Remember the Gender
Make sure the ending matches the thing you are describing: 'El coche está atascado' (masculine) but 'La tubería está atascada' (feminine).
Atascado can also describe being mentally blocked or unable to make progress on a thought or task.
atascado(adjective)
stuck
?unable to progress mentally
,bogged down
?with work or bureaucracy
in a rut
?figurative sense of being unable to move forward
📝 In Action
Estoy atascado con este ensayo; no sé cómo terminarlo.
B1I'm stuck on this essay; I don't know how to finish it.
El proyecto se quedó atascado en el departamento legal por meses.
B2The project got bogged down in the legal department for months.
No te quedes atascada en el pasado; sigue adelante.
B1Don't get stuck in the past; keep moving forward.
💡 Grammar Points
Figurative Use
This meaning uses the idea of a physical blockage (like traffic) to describe a mental or emotional block, or bureaucratic delay.
⭐ Usage Tips
Expressing Frustration
This is a great word to use when you are frustrated with a lack of progress in creative work, studies, or problem-solving.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: atascado
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'atascado' in its figurative (non-physical) sense?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
If 'atascado' is a past participle, how is it different from the verb 'atascar'?
'Atascado' describes the result or state of the action. 'Atascar' is the action itself (to cause the jam). Think of it like 'broken' (atascado) versus 'to break' (atascar). We usually use 'estar atascado' to describe the current state.
Is 'atasco' the same as 'atascado'?
They are related! 'Atasco' (noun) is the actual jam or blockage (e.g., 'the traffic jam'). 'Atascado' (adjective) describes something that is *in* that state (e.g., 'the car is stuck').