encendido
“encendido” means “on” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
on, lit
Also: alight
📝 In Action
La televisión sigue encendida, ¿quién la dejó así?
A1The television is still on, who left it like that?
Las luces de la calle estaban encendidas a medianoche.
A2The street lights were lit at midnight.
Asegúrate de que el motor no esté encendido antes de revisar el aceite.
B1Make sure the engine is not running (on) before checking the oil.
heated, fiery
Also: flushed, passionate
📝 In Action
Tuvieron una discusión muy encendida sobre política.
B2They had a very heated discussion about politics.
Su rostro estaba encendido por la vergüenza.
C1Her face was flushed (red) with shame.
ignition, switch
Also: startup
📝 In Action
Tengo problemas con el encendido de mi coche en las mañanas.
B1I have problems with the ignition (starting) of my car in the mornings.
El botón de encendido está justo aquí.
A2The power switch/button is right here.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: encendido
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'encendido' as a noun?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word comes from the Latin verb *incendere*, meaning 'to set fire to' or 'to light up.' It passed into Spanish as 'encender,' and 'encendido' is the result of that action.
First recorded: Medieval Spanish
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'encendido' related to 'encender'?
Yes! 'Encendido' is the past form of the verb 'encender' (to turn on/light). It acts like an adjective, describing the state that results from the verb's action: something that has been 'turned on' is now 'on'.
How do I know if I should use 'encendido' or 'prendido'?
Both mean 'on.' 'Encendido' is standard across the Spanish-speaking world. 'Prendido' is very common, sometimes even preferred, in many parts of Latin America, especially for lights or electronics.