bloqueado
/blo-kay-AH-tho/
blocked
A large rock sitting in the middle of a path shows the word 'bloqueado' as a physical blockage.
bloqueado(adjective)
blocked
?a road, a path, or a digital user
frozen
?a bank account or computer screen
,stuck
?a mechanism or feeling
📝 In Action
El acceso a la calle está bloqueado por el camión.
A2Access to the street is blocked by the truck.
Mi cuenta del banco está bloqueada y no puedo sacar dinero.
B1My bank account is frozen and I can't take out money.
He bloqueado a mi ex en todas las redes sociales.
A2I have blocked my ex on all social media.
💡 Grammar Points
Using with 'Estar'
Since being 'blocked' is usually a result of an action or a temporary state, we almost always use the verb 'estar' (to be) with this word.
Matching Gender
Remember to change the ending to 'bloqueada' if the thing you are describing is feminine, like 'la calle' (the street).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Frozen vs. Blocked
Mistake: "Using 'helado' for a frozen bank account."
Correction: Use 'bloqueado' for digital or financial accounts; 'helado' is only for things that are cold like ice cream!
⭐ Usage Tips
Digital Lingo
In the modern world, this is the standard word for 'blocking' someone on WhatsApp or Instagram.
Being unable to find the next idea illustrates 'bloqueado' as being mentally stuck.
bloqueado(adjective)
stuck
?unable to think or progress
blank
?when your mind goes empty during an exam
📝 In Action
Me quedé bloqueado en el examen y no recordaba nada.
B1My mind went blank during the exam and I didn't remember anything.
El escritor se siente bloqueado y no puede terminar su novela.
B2The writer feels stuck and cannot finish his novel.
💡 Grammar Points
The verb 'quedarse'
We often use 'quedarse' (to stay/become) with bloqueado to describe the moment your mind suddenly stops working.
⭐ Usage Tips
Emotional Block
You can use this to describe feeling emotionally paralyzed in a conversation or a relationship.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: bloqueado
Question 1 of 2
If your credit card doesn't work because the bank stopped it, you would say it is:
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'bloqueado' different from 'cerrado'?
'Cerrado' means 'closed' (like a door or a shop). 'Bloqueado' means 'blocked' or 'jammed,' implying that something is preventing it from opening or working correctly.
How do I say 'unblocked'?
Simply add 'des-' to the beginning: 'desbloqueado'.