inconsciente
/in-kon-syén-te/
unconscious
Visualizing the adjective 'inconsciente' meaning medically or physically unconscious.
inconsciente(adjective)
unconscious
?medical/physical state
,unaware
?lacking knowledge or realization
senseless
?knocked out
📝 In Action
Después del accidente, el conductor quedó inconsciente por unos minutos.
B1After the accident, the driver remained unconscious for a few minutes.
Ella fue completamente inconsciente del peligro que corría.
B2She was completely unaware of the danger she was running.
Fue un error inconsciente; no quise ofender a nadie.
B2It was an unconscious (unintentional) mistake; I didn't mean to offend anyone.
💡 Grammar Points
Always Stays the Same
Unlike most adjectives, 'inconsciente' doesn't change based on gender (it's used for both masculine and feminine nouns). It only changes to plural: 'inconscientes'.
Ser vs. Estar
Use 'estar' (to be) to talk about the temporary state of being knocked out: 'El paciente está inconsciente.' Use 'ser' (to be) less often, usually for describing a person's general lack of awareness.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Accidentally Changing Gender
Mistake: "La mujer inconscienta."
Correction: La mujer inconsciente. Remember, this adjective doesn't end in -o/-a, so it doesn't change its ending for gender.
⭐ Usage Tips
Two Main Uses
Think of it in two ways: 1) Physical (passed out) or 2) Mental (doing something without realizing it, like a reflex).
Visualizing the noun 'el inconsciente' referring to the psychological concept of the unconscious mind.
📝 In Action
Según Freud, muchos de nuestros miedos residen en el inconsciente.
C1According to Freud, many of our fears reside in the unconscious.
Los sueños son una ventana al inconsciente.
C1Dreams are a window to the subconscious.
💡 Grammar Points
Using the Article
When used as a noun meaning 'the subconscious mind,' it always requires the masculine definite article 'el' (el inconsciente).
⭐ Usage Tips
Context is Key
If you see 'el inconsciente' it almost always refers to the psychological concept. If you see 'estoy inconsciente' it means you are physically passed out.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: inconsciente
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'inconsciente' in its psychological, noun form?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'inconsciente' mean 'stupid' or 'thoughtless'?
It can sometimes imply 'thoughtless' (doing something without thinking), but it does NOT mean 'stupid.' If you want to say someone is thoughtless or careless, you might say 'irresponsable' or 'descuidado' instead. 'Inconsciente' strictly means 'unaware' or 'passed out.'