investigado
/een-bes-tee-GAH-doh/
investigated
A magnifying glass over a folder illustrates something that is being investigated.
investigado(adjective)
investigated
?general context
,under investigation
?legal or official context
researched
?academic or scientific
📝 In Action
El caso investigado por la policía es muy confidencial.
B1The case investigated by the police is very confidential.
Es un tema poco investigado por los científicos.
B2It is a topic that has been little researched by scientists.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender and Number Agreement
This word must match the person or thing you are describing. Use 'investigado' for masculine nouns (el caso) and 'investigada' for feminine nouns (la pista).
The 'Done' Form
This is a past participle, which is like the English '-ed' form. It describes the result of an action that has already happened.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Don't confuse with the person doing the work
Mistake: "Using 'investigado' for a detective."
Correction: Use 'investigador' for the person who investigates, and 'investigado' for the person being investigated.
⭐ Usage Tips
Using with 'Ser' vs 'Estar'
Use it with 'ser' for the action (fue investigado - he was investigated) and 'estar' for the status (está investigado - he is under investigation).
A person under a spotlight represents a suspect or a person of interest.
investigado(noun)
suspect
?legal person of interest
,the person under investigation
?official proceedings
📝 In Action
El investigado se negó a declarar ante el tribunal.
B2The suspect refused to testify before the court.
Los derechos del investigado deben ser respetados.
C1The rights of the person under investigation must be respected.
💡 Grammar Points
Turning a Descriptor into a Person
In Spanish, you can often put 'el' or 'la' in front of a word like this to turn it from a description into a noun (the person who is...).
⭐ Usage Tips
A softer legal term
In Spain, 'investigado' is now preferred over 'imputado' because it sounds slightly more neutral and less like an automatic accusation.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: investigado
Question 1 of 2
How would you describe a feminine clue (la pista) that has been researched?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'investigado' always mean a criminal suspect?
Not always! While common in legal settings, it can also describe a scientific topic or a historical fact that has been studied thoroughly.
Is 'investigado' a verb?
It is a form of the verb (the past participle). You use it with the word 'haber' (to have) to say things like 'He investigado' (I have investigated).