Inklingo
← Dictionary

manchado

man-CHA-doh/manˈtʃaðo/

stained, spotted

Also: smudged
A white shirt with a large, dark brown coffee stain on the front.

📝 In Action

Tu pantalón está manchado de barro.

A2

Your pants are stained with mud.

El perro es blanco pero tiene el lomo manchado.

B1

The dog is white but has a spotted back.

No uses ese mantel porque está todo manchado.

A2

Don't use that tablecloth because it is all stained.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • sucio (dirty)
  • moteado (speckled/spotted)

Antonyms

  • limpio (clean)
  • impoluto (unblemished/spotless)

Common Collocations

  • estar manchado de – to be stained with
  • manchado de sangre – stained with blood
  • todo manchado – covered in stains

tarnished, tainted

AdjectivemB2formal
A shiny golden crown resting on a table with a splash of black ink covering part of it.

📝 In Action

Su reputación quedó manchada tras el juicio.

B2

His reputation was tarnished after the trial.

Tiene un pasado manchado por la corrupción.

C1

He has a past tainted by corruption.

Es difícil limpiar un honor manchado.

C1

It is difficult to clean a disgraced honor.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • deshonrado (dishonored)
  • corrupto (corrupt)

Antonyms

  • íntegro (upright/honest)

Common Collocations

  • reputación manchada – tarnished reputation
  • expediente manchado – tainted record/criminal record

Idioms & Expressions

  • tener las manos manchadas de sangre – to be guilty of a crime or responsible for a death

latte macchiato

Also: milky coffee
NounmB1informal
Spain
A tall glass filled mostly with white steamed milk and a small brown layer of coffee at the top.

📝 In Action

Para mí, un manchado con poca azúcar, por favor.

B1

For me, a 'manchado' with a little sugar, please.

No quiero mucho café, prefiero un manchado.

B1

I don't want much coffee; I prefer a 'manchado' (mostly milk).

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • nube (cloud (term for coffee in Malaga))
  • café con leche (coffee with milk)

Common Collocations

  • pedir un manchado – to order a manchado

Translate to Spanish

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: manchado

Question 1 of 3

If you are in a cafe and want a drink that is mostly milk with just a tiny bit of coffee, you should ask for:

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
mancha(stain/spot) — Noun
manchar(to stain/to soil) — Verb
desmanchar(to remove a stain) — Verb
manchita(little spot) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the Spanish verb 'manchar', which comes from the Latin 'maculare' (to make spots). The root 'macula' is also where we get the English word 'immaculate' (without spots).

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: manchadoItalian: macchiato

💡 Master Spanish

Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'manchado' the same as 'sucio'?

Not exactly. 'Sucio' means generally dirty. 'Manchado' specifically means there is a spot or a mark on something that is otherwise clean.

Can I use 'manchado' to describe a person's character?

Yes! If you say someone has a 'pasado manchado,' you mean they have done bad things in their past that people still remember.

How do I say 'stained with...'?

Use the word 'de'. For example: 'Manchado de vino' (Stained with wine) or 'Manchado de tinta' (Stained with ink).