A pair of well-worn blue denim jeans with a small patch on the knee, sitting on a wooden chair.

usada

oo-SAH-dah

adjectivefA1

used?not new; second-hand

Also:worn?referring to clothes or items showing wear,utilized?something that has been put to work

📝 In Action

Compré una mesa usada para mi apartamento.

I bought a used table for my apartment.

La ropa usada suele ser más barata.

Used clothing is usually cheaper.

Esta estrategia ya ha sido usada antes.

This strategy has already been used before.

Word Connections

Synonyms

utilizada (utilized)
empleada (employed/used)
gastada (worn out)

Antonyms

nueva (new)
estrenar (brand new/to wear for the first time)

Common Collocations

ropa usada – second-hand clothes
poco usada – hardly used
bien usada – well-used

💡 Grammar Points

Gender Matching

Use 'usada' only when describing 'female' (feminine) nouns like 'la mesa' (the table) or 'la ropa' (the clothing). If the object is 'male' (masculine), use 'usado' instead.

Describing Actions

When saying something 'was used' (passive voice), the word 'usada' must match the thing you are talking about. Example: 'La herramienta fue usada' (The tool was used).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Mixing Genders

Mistake: "El coche está usada."

Correction: Say 'El coche está usado' because 'coche' is a masculine noun.

⭐ Usage Tips

Buying Second-Hand

If you are at a thrift store or looking at classified ads, look for the phrase 'de segunda mano' as a synonym for 'usada'.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: usada

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence correctly uses 'usada'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

usar(to use) - verb

usado(used (masculine)) - adjective

uso(use/habit) - noun

usuario(user) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'usada' always an adjective?

Most of the time, yes. However, it can also function as part of a verb phrase (the past participle) in passive sentences like 'La llave fue usada' (The key was used).

What is the difference between 'usada' and 'gastada'?

'Usada' simply means it has had a previous owner or has been used. 'Gastada' implies it is worn out, thin, or damaged from too much use.