casado
/cah-SAH-doh/
married
This illustration shows two hands wearing rings, representing the state of being casado (married).
casado(Adjective)
married
?describing marital status
joined
?as in pieces or elements being fitted together
📝 In Action
Mi hermano mayor está casado con una doctora.
A1My older brother is married to a doctor.
¿Sabías que Antonio y Paula ya llevan diez años de casados?
A2Did you know Antonio and Paula have been married for ten years now?
Necesito una silla con la tela de color más casado con el sofá.
B1I need a chair with the fabric color that is better matched (joined) to the sofa.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender and Number Match
Like all Spanish adjectives, 'casado' must match the person it describes: 'un hombre casado' (a married man), 'una mujer casada' (a married woman), 'varios hombres casados' (several married men), and 'muchas mujeres casadas' (many married women).
Ser vs. Estar for Status
Although you might use 'ser' for permanent characteristics, marital status is treated as a changeable state, so you almost always use the verb 'estar' (to be) when stating someone is married: 'Ella está casada'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the 'to'
Mistake: "Está casado a un doctor. (Literal translation: is married at a doctor.)"
Correction: Está casado *con* un doctor. (The Spanish preposition 'con' means 'with' and is used to express who you are married *to*.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Participle Origin
'Casado' is the past participle of the verb 'casar' (to marry), which is why it can be used with the verb 'haber' to form compound tenses: 'Ellos se han casado hoy' (They have married today).
This man, identified by his wedding ring, is a casado (married man).
📝 In Action
En la encuesta, el 60% de los encuestados eran casados.
B2In the survey, 60% of the respondents were married people (married men/people).
Llegó tarde porque su casado tuvo un accidente.
C1She arrived late because her husband had an accident. (Less formal/regional use for 'husband')
💡 Grammar Points
The Noun Form
When 'casado' is used as a noun, it means 'a married man.' If you are talking about women, you must use the feminine form: 'una casada' (a married woman).
⭐ Usage Tips
Formal Contexts
You will most often see the noun form used in official documents, legal texts, or summaries where describing marital status as a group characteristic is necessary.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: casado
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'casado' to describe marital status?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I say 'estoy casado' instead of 'soy casado'?
While English uses 'to be' for this state, Spanish views marriage as a current situation or condition (a state of being), not an inherent characteristic. Therefore, you must use the verb *estar* (estoy, está, estamos, etc.) when talking about marital status.
Does 'casado' only refer to marriage?
No. Although its primary meaning is 'married,' because it is the past form of the verb 'casar' (to match/join), it can also be used figuratively to describe colors, items, or ideas that are 'well-matched' or 'joined together' successfully.