quemado
/keh-MAH-doh/
burnt
Quemado (burnt) describing physical damage caused by heat.
quemado(adjective)
burnt
?physical damage by heat
,scorched
?surface damage
sunburned
?skin exposed to too much sun
,overcooked
?food
📝 In Action
El cable estaba quemado y tuvimos que reemplazarlo.
A2The cable was burnt and we had to replace it.
Ten cuidado, el arroz está un poco quemado por debajo.
B1Be careful, the rice is a little burnt underneath.
💡 Grammar Points
Masculine Form
Remember that 'quemado' must match the gender and number of the noun it describes: 'quemada' (feminine singular), 'quemados' (masculine plural), 'quemadas' (feminine plural).
⭐ Usage Tips
Sunburn Use
You can use 'estar quemado' to describe having a sunburn, but the noun 'quemadura' (a burn, or sunburn) is also very common.
Quemado (burnt out) referring to mental exhaustion from stress.
quemado(adjective)
burnt out
?mentally exhausted from stress/work
,fed up
?bored or tired of a situation
done for
?feeling completely finished or defeated
📝 In Action
Después de tres meses sin descanso, estoy completamente quemado.
B2After three months without rest, I am completely burnt out.
Ella está quemada de estudiar la misma materia.
C1She is fed up with studying the same subject.
💡 Grammar Points
Using 'Estar'
This emotional state almost always uses the verb 'estar' (to be temporarily) because it describes a current feeling or condition, not a permanent characteristic.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Mixing up 'Ser' and 'Estar'
Mistake: "Soy quemado."
Correction: Estoy quemado. Using 'ser' would imply being a 'burnt person' permanently, which doesn't convey the temporary feeling of exhaustion.
⭐ Usage Tips
Expressing the Cause
You often follow 'quemado' with 'de' or 'con' to explain the reason for the burnout: 'quemado de estudiar' (burnt out from studying) or 'quemado con el sistema' (fed up with the system).
Quemado (burned) used as the past participle after 'haber'.
📝 In Action
Hemos quemado toda la basura vieja.
A2We have burned all the old trash.
Ella ya había quemado esa etapa de su vida.
B1She had already burned that stage of her life (figurative: finished it).
💡 Grammar Points
Perfect Tenses
This form is used with the verb 'haber' (to have done something) to create compound tenses, like the present perfect ('he quemado', I have burned).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'Tener' instead of 'Haber'
Mistake: "Tengo quemado el pan."
Correction: He quemado el pan. 'Tener' means 'to possess,' while 'haber' is the auxiliary verb needed to form perfect tenses.
Quemado (sucker) describing a person who was tricked or lost money.
quemado(noun)
sucker
?person who was tricked or lost money
,loser
?someone who is unsuccessful or failed
gullible person
?easily fooled
📝 In Action
Lo invitaron a la fiesta y no fue; ¡qué quemado!
C1They invited him to the party and he didn't go; what a loser!
Me vendieron un coche dañado, fui un quemado.
C2They sold me a damaged car, I was a sucker.
💡 Grammar Points
Used as an Insult
This meaning is almost always used as a negative label or mild insult, similar to calling someone 'a failure' or 'a disappointment'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Register Warning
Since this is slang, avoid using it in formal settings. It is usually reserved for conversations among close friends.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: quemado
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'quemado' to mean 'mentally exhausted'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'quemado' and 'ardiendo'?
'Quemado' describes a permanent state (it IS burnt), or a person's exhaustion (they ARE burnt out). 'Ardiendo' means 'burning' or 'on fire' right now. 'La madera está ardiendo' (The wood is currently burning), but 'La madera está quemada' (The wood has been burned).
Can I use 'quemado' to describe a CD or DVD that doesn't work?
Yes, in many Spanish-speaking countries, 'quemar' also means 'to burn' a CD/DVD (to record data onto it). If the disc is unusable, you might hear 'El disco está quemado' (The disc is ruined/burnt).