Inklingo
← Dictionary

cansado

/cahn-SAH-doh/

tired

A sleepy brown bear cub lying on its back, yawning widely with a tired, exhausted expression.

When you feel physically or mentally drained, you are cansado (tired).

cansado(Adjective)

mA1

tired

?

physically or mentally fatigued

Also:

weary

?

slightly more formal way to say tired

📝 In Action

Estoy muy cansado después del trabajo, necesito dormir.

A1

I am very tired after work, I need to sleep.

¿Estás cansada, María? Te ves agotada.

A1

Are you tired, Maria? You look exhausted.

Los niños estaban cansados de tanto correr en el parque.

A2

The children were tired from running so much in the park.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • agotado (exhausted)
  • rendido (spent)

Antonyms

  • descansado (well-rested)
  • activo (active)

Common Collocations

  • estar cansado – to be tired
  • sentirse cansado – to feel tired

💡 Grammar Points

State of Being (Estar)

Since being tired is a temporary condition or state, you must always use the verb 'estar' (to be) with 'cansado' (e.g., 'Estoy cansado').

Match the Person

Like most Spanish descriptive words, 'cansado' must match the gender and number of the person or thing it describes: 'cansada' (feminine singular), 'cansados' (masculine plural), 'cansadas' (feminine plural).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using the Wrong 'To Be' Verb

Mistake: "Soy cansado."

Correction: Estoy cansado. Using 'ser' (Soy) implies being tired is a permanent characteristic, which isn't usually true.

⭐ Usage Tips

Adding Intensity

To say you are 'very tired,' you can use 'muy cansado' or the intensifier 'cansadísimo' (super tired/absolutely exhausted).

A cartoon fox character standing with its arms tightly crossed, rolling its eyes dramatically, showing extreme annoyance and frustration.

When you are cansado of doing or hearing something, it means you are completely fed up.

cansado(Adjective (Figurative))

mB1

fed up

?

tired of doing or hearing something

Also:

sick of

?

informal way to express intense boredom/annoyance

📝 In Action

Estoy cansado de que siempre llegues tarde.

B1

I am fed up with you always arriving late.

El público estaba cansado de las promesas vacías del político.

B2

The public was tired of the politician's empty promises.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • harto (fed up/sick of)
  • aburrido (bored)

Common Collocations

  • estar cansado de la vida – to be tired of life
  • cansarse de esperar – to get tired of waiting

💡 Grammar Points

The Necessary 'De'

When 'cansado' means 'fed up' or 'tired of,' you must place the small word 'de' (of/from) immediately after it, followed by the thing, person, or action causing the fatigue.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Forgetting the Connecting Word

Mistake: "Estoy cansado escuchar esto."

Correction: Estoy cansado **de** escuchar esto. You need 'de' to link the feeling to the source of annoyance.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: cansado

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly uses 'cansado' to show a temporary state of fatigue?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

cansancio(tiredness/fatigue) - noun
cansar(to tire/to fatigue (verb)) - verb
cansino(tiresome/annoying) - adjective

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I say 'You make me tired'?

You need to use the verb form, 'cansar.' You would say 'Me cansas' or 'Tú me cansas.' Remember, 'cansado' is the description (tired), but 'cansar' is the action (to tire).

Is 'cansado' related to boredom?

Yes, indirectly. When you use 'estar cansado de [algo],' it often means you are bored or annoyed because something happens too much or is repetitive (like Definition 2: 'fed up'). If you mean just general boredom, use 'aburrido.'