pillado
/pee-YAH-doh/
caught
When someone is 'caught' or 'trapped,' they are pillado.
pillado(Adjective)
caught
?discovered or trapped
,apprehended
?formal, usually by police
busted
?informal
,trapped
?physically or figuratively
📝 In Action
El ladrón fue pillado justo cuando salía de la tienda.
B1The thief was caught just as he was leaving the store.
Estamos pillados en un atasco terrible en la autopista.
B2We are trapped/stuck in a terrible traffic jam on the highway.
💡 Grammar Points
Agreement is Key
Like many adjectives, 'pillado' must match the person or thing it describes: 'La niña está pillada' (The girl is caught).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using the Wrong Verb
Mistake: "Fui pillado en el tráfico. (Implies the action of being caught is permanent.)"
Correction: Estoy pillado en el tráfico. (Use 'estar' to describe the temporary state of being stuck.)
⭐ Usage Tips
The Root Verb
'Pillado' comes from 'pillar,' which means 'to catch,' 'to grab,' or 'to understand'—so 'pillado' always relates back to one of those ideas.
If you are 'busted' doing something naughty, you are pillado.
pillado(Adjective)
busted
?discovered doing something bad
,caught out
?embarrassed by discovery
found out
?in a lie or secret
📝 In Action
¡Te he pillado comiendo chocolate a escondidas!
B2I busted you eating chocolate secretly!
Estaba totalmente pillado cuando supo que su secreto había sido revelado.
C1He was totally caught out/shocked when he found out his secret had been revealed.
💡 Grammar Points
Focus on the Result
When someone is 'pillado' in this sense, they are usually feeling the immediate result of being discovered: shame, shock, or surprise.
⭐ Usage Tips
Use with 'Estar'
This meaning almost always uses the verb 'estar' (to be temporarily) to describe the resulting state of being busted: 'Estás pillado' (You are busted/caught out).
When you are 'smitten' or deeply attracted to someone, you are pillado.
pillado(Adjective)
smitten
?deeply attracted
,crushing
?having a strong infatuation
hooked
?on a person
📝 In Action
Creo que estoy pillado por mi nuevo vecino. No puedo dejar de mirarlo.
C1I think I'm crushing on my new neighbor. I can't stop looking at him.
Mi hermana está totalmente pillada por ese cantante famoso.
C1My sister is totally smitten with that famous singer.
💡 Grammar Points
The Preposition 'Por'
When talking about who you are crushing on, you must use the preposition 'por' (by/for): 'Estoy pillado por María' (I am crushing on Maria).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Overusing in Formal Settings
Mistake: "El director está pillado por la nueva política."
Correction: Use 'fascinado' (fascinated) instead. This meaning of 'pillado' is too informal for professional contexts.
⭐ Usage Tips
Feeling Trapped by Love
Think of this meaning as being 'caught' or 'trapped' by powerful feelings of love—it helps explain why 'pillado' is used here.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: pillado
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'pillado' in the slang sense of having a crush?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use 'pillado' instead of 'entendido' (understood)?
Yes, but only in very informal Spanish, especially in Spain. '¿Lo has pillado?' means 'Did you get/understand it?' It's best to stick to 'entender' or 'comprender' in formal settings.
Since it ends in -ado, is 'pillado' always an adjective?
'Pillado' is the past form of the verb 'pillar.' It acts as an adjective when describing a state ('Estoy pillado'), and it is used with the verb 'haber' (e.g., 'he pillado') to form perfect tenses, where it functions as the main verb form.