protegido
/proh-teh-HEE-doh/
protected
When used as an adjective, protegido means protected or kept safe.
📝 In Action
El área de anidación está protegida por una valla.
A2The nesting area is protected by a fence.
Ella se siente protegida cuando está cerca de su familia.
B1She feels safe (protected) when she is near her family.
Los documentos estaban bien protegidos en la caja fuerte.
B2The documents were well protected in the safe.
💡 Grammar Points
Agreement Rule
Like all Spanish descriptive words, 'protegido' must match the thing it describes in gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural). For example: 'la casa protegida' (feminine singular) or 'los niños protegidos' (masculine plural).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Past Participle and Infinitive
Mistake: "La ciudad fue proteger."
Correction: La ciudad fue protegida. (Remember to use the '-ado/-ido' form when describing the result of an action.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Using 'Estar' vs. 'Ser'
Use 'estar protegido' (to be protected) to describe a temporary state or condition ('La ventana está protegida'). Use 'ser protegido' (to be protected) for passive voice ('La ley fue protegida por el gobierno').
As a noun, protegido means a protégé—a person guided and helped by an older, more experienced mentor.
protegido(Noun)
protégé
?a person guided and helped by an older/more experienced person
ward
?legal guardianship
,favorite
?a person who receives special favor
📝 In Action
El joven artista era el protegido de la famosa escultora.
B1The young artist was the protégé of the famous sculptress.
El director siempre defendía a su protegido en las reuniones.
C1The director always defended his ward (or protégé) in the meetings.
💡 Grammar Points
Feminine Form
The feminine form of the noun is 'la protegida' (the female protégé or ward). The meaning remains the same, only the gender changes.
⭐ Usage Tips
Formal Contexts
This word is often used in formal or historical contexts when discussing mentorship, legal guardianship, or political favor.
As a past participle, protegido (protected) is used with 'haber' to form perfect tenses.
📝 In Action
Hemos protegido a los animales durante años.
A1We have protected the animals for years.
¿Quién había protegido tu secreto?
B2Who had protected your secret?
💡 Grammar Points
The 'Have' Verb
When used in compound tenses (like 'I have protected'), 'protegido' always pairs with the verb 'haber' (to have). It never changes its form (it stays 'protegido', regardless of who is doing the action).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Perfect Tense and Adjective
Mistake: "Hemos protegidos a los niños."
Correction: Hemos protegido a los niños. (When used with 'haber', the participle never changes gender or number. Only when used with 'ser' or 'estar' as an adjective does it change.)
⭐ Usage Tips
The 'Perfect' Look
This form tells you that the action of 'protecting' is finished or completed at the time of speaking.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: protegido
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'protegido' as a noun (referring to a person)?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'protegido' and 'protección'?
'Protegido' describes something that has received safety (e.g., 'the protected animal'). 'Protección' is the act or state of safety itself (e.g., 'The protection is strong').
Why does 'protegido' sometimes stay the same and sometimes change (protegida, protegidos)?
It changes when it acts as an adjective (describing a noun, like 'the protected house'), but it stays the same when it is used with the verb 'haber' to form compound tenses (like 'ha protegido').