tocado
/toh-KAH-doh/
touched
Tocado (touched) illustrating the past action of making physical contact.
tocado(Verb Form)
touched
?as the past action of 'tocar'
,played
?music/instrument
knocked
?on a door
,rung
?a bell
📝 In Action
Nunca he tocado esa campana.
A1I have never rung that bell.
Ella había tocado el piano desde niña.
A2She had played the piano since she was a child.
💡 Grammar Points
Forming Perfect Tenses
This form ('tocado') is always used with the verb 'haber' (to have) to create perfect tenses, such as the present perfect ('he tocado', I have touched).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'Estar' instead of 'Haber'
Mistake: "Yo estoy tocado el violín."
Correction: Yo he tocado el violín. Remember, 'tocado' needs 'haber' for completed actions, not 'estar'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Always Ends in -o
When used with 'haber', the past participle 'tocado' never changes its ending, even if the subject is feminine or plural (e.g., 'Ellas han tocado').
Tocado (headdress) depicting an elaborate head covering.
tocado(Noun)
headdress
?elaborate head covering
fascinator
?formal British-style headwear
,headpiece
?decorative item worn on the head
📝 In Action
La novia llevaba un tocado impresionante con plumas.
B1The bride was wearing an impressive headdress with feathers.
Para la carrera de caballos, es obligatorio llevar un tocado.
B2For the horse race, it is mandatory to wear a fascinator.
💡 Grammar Points
Masculine Noun
Even though it refers to clothing often associated with women, 'tocado' is a masculine noun, so you must use 'el tocado' or 'un tocado'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Beyond a Simple Hat
Use 'tocado' for a decorative, fancy, or ceremonial piece of headwear, rather than a simple everyday hat ('sombrero' or 'gorra').
Tocado (damaged) showing an object that has been physically affected.
tocado(Adjective)
damaged
?physically or emotionally affected
,slightly crazy
?figurative/informal
affected
?emotionally or mentally
,tipsy/drunk
?informal slang (less common)
📝 In Action
El motor de la lancha está tocado; no arranca bien.
B2The boat engine is damaged; it doesn't start well.
Después de la noticia, María se quedó muy tocada.
B2After the news, Maria was left deeply affected (or hurt).
Creo que ese hombre está un poco tocado de la cabeza.
C1I think that man is a little bit crazy (literally: touched in the head).
💡 Grammar Points
Agreement
As an adjective, 'tocado' changes its ending to match the person or thing it describes: 'el coche tocado' (the damaged car) vs. 'la ventana tocada' (the damaged window).
⭐ Usage Tips
Use with 'Estar'
This adjective is almost always used with the verb 'estar' (to be) to describe a state or condition, such as 'Ella está tocada' (She is affected).
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: tocado
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'tocado' as a piece of headwear?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How is 'tocado' different from 'ha tocado'?
'Tocado' is the base form (the past participle), meaning 'touched' or 'played.' 'Ha tocado' is the complete verb phrase, combining the auxiliary verb 'haber' ('ha') with 'tocado,' meaning 'he/she/it has touched/played.'
Can I use 'tocado' to mean 'drunk'?
Yes, in very informal, conversational Spanish, especially in Spain, 'estar tocado' can mean slightly drunk or tipsy, but it's not the most common translation. Stick to 'borracho' or 'ebrio' for clarity in most situations.