Inklingo
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pegado

/peh-GAH-doh/

stuck

A close-up of a colorful, square postage stamp firmly stuck onto a plain white envelope, illustrating physical adhesion.

When something is pegado, it is physically adhered, like a stamp to an envelope.

pegado(adjective)

mA1

stuck

?

physically adhered

,

glued

?

using adhesive

Also:

attached

?

fixed to something

📝 In Action

El chicle se quedó pegado al zapato.

A2

The chewing gum stayed stuck to the shoe.

Necesitas quitar el papel que está pegado a la ventana.

A1

You need to remove the paper that is glued to the window.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • adherido (adhered)
  • unido (joined)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • pegado con cinta – taped

💡 Grammar Points

Using 'Estar' vs. 'Ser'

Use 'estar' with 'pegado' (e.g., 'está pegado') when describing the temporary state of something being stuck, which is the most common use.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Gender Agreement

Mistake: "Las fotos está pegado."

Correction: Las fotos están pegadas. Remember 'pegado' is an adjective, so it must match the thing it describes in gender and number.

A small, red wooden chair standing directly beside and touching a small, blue square table, showing close proximity.

Pegado can describe two things located right next to each other, emphasizing close proximity.

pegado(adjective)

mB1

right next to

?

location/proximity

,

adjacent

?

building/property

Also:

close to

?

nearby

📝 In Action

El supermercado está pegado a la estación de policía.

B1

The supermarket is right next to the police station.

Viajamos en el autobús y ella se sentó pegada a mí.

B2

We traveled on the bus and she sat right next to me.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • junto a (next to)
  • cerca (near)

Antonyms

Idioms & Expressions

  • estar pegado al móvil – To be addicted to one's phone or always looking at it.

💡 Grammar Points

Using 'A'

When 'pegado' means 'next to' or 'close,' it almost always needs the little word 'a' right after it to connect it to the location: 'pegado a la pared' (stuck to the wall).

⭐ Usage Tips

Emphasis on Closeness

Using 'pegado' instead of 'cerca' (near) emphasizes that the two things are literally touching or immediately adjacent.

A piece of light blue construction paper that was torn in half and is now neatly held together by a single strip of clear tape across the seam.

As a past participle, pegado often describes an action that has been completed, such as having been stuck or adhered.

pegado(past participle)

A1

stuck

?

used with 'haber' to form perfect tenses

,

hit

?

used with 'haber' to form perfect tenses

Also:

pasted

?

used with 'haber'

📝 In Action

Hemos pegado todos los sellos al sobre.

A1

We have stuck all the stamps on the envelope.

Nunca le había pegado a nadie.

B1

He had never hit anyone.

💡 Grammar Points

Forming Perfect Tenses

The word 'pegado' is the form you use after a conjugated form of 'haber' (to have) to describe actions completed in the past, like 'he pegado' (I have stuck/hit).

Spelling Change in 'Pegar'

The verb 'pegar' adds a 'u' before the 'e' sound in certain forms (like 'pegué' or 'pegue') to keep the hard 'g' sound, otherwise it would sound like 'peje'.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: pegado

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'pegado' to mean 'right next to'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

pegar(to stick / to hit) - verb
pegamento(glue) - noun
pegatina(sticker) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'pegado' always mean 'stuck'?

No. While its main meaning is 'stuck' or 'glued,' it is also extremely common as an adjective meaning 'very close' or 'right next to.' For example, 'Mi casa está pegada a la tuya' (My house is right next to yours).

Why does 'pegar' have two very different meanings: 'to stick' and 'to hit'?

Both meanings come from the idea of 'making contact.' When you stick something, you make contact and join it. When you hit something, you make forceful contact. Context usually makes it clear which meaning is intended.