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A simple storybook illustration of a smiling woman standing, visibly pregnant with a large rounded belly, gently resting her hands on her stomach.

embarazada

em-bah-rah-SAH-dah

adjectivefA1
pregnant?describing a woman,expecting?informal synonym
Also:with child?archaic or formal

📝 In Action

Mi hermana está embarazada de su primer hijo.

A1

My sister is pregnant with her first child.

Vimos a una mujer muy embarazada en la parada del autobús.

A2

We saw a very pregnant woman at the bus stop.

Ella acaba de anunciar que está embarazada.

A1

She just announced that she is expecting.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • encinta (pregnant (slightly more formal))
  • grávida (pregnant (literary/medical))

Antonyms

  • no embarazada (not pregnant)

Common Collocations

  • estar embarazada – to be pregnant (most common usage)
  • quedar embarazada – to become pregnant

💡 Grammar Points

Always Feminine

This adjective is always feminine (embarazada) because it only describes a female person or animal.

Use 'Estar'

Since pregnancy is a temporary state, use the verb 'estar' (to be temporarily) with 'embarazada', not 'ser' (to be permanent).

❌ Common Pitfalls

The False Friend

Mistake: "Using 'embarazada' to mean 'embarrassed' (e.g., 'Estoy muy embarazada')."

Correction: To express embarrassment, use 'avergonzada' or 'tengo vergüenza'. Remember: EMBARAZADA = PREGNANT.

⭐ Usage Tips

A Useful Noun

You can sometimes use it as a noun: 'Una embarazada' means 'a pregnant woman'.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: embarazada

Question 1 of 2

If you hear someone say, 'Mi tía está embarazada,' what are they talking about?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

embarazo(pregnancy) - noun
embarazar(to make pregnant) - verb

Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'embarazada' ever mean 'embarrassed'?

No, never! This is the most common mistake English speakers make. 'Embarazada' always means 'pregnant' or 'expecting a baby.' If you want to say 'embarrassed,' you should use the Spanish word 'avergonzada' or the phrase 'tener vergüenza'.

Why is 'embarazada' always feminine?

Since the condition of being pregnant is exclusive to females, the word is strictly feminine, regardless of whether you are using it as an adjective or a noun.