vencido

/ven-SEE-doh/

defeated

A sad cartoon knight sitting on the ground next to his fallen flag, symbolizing defeat after a battle or competition.

When someone is vencido, they are defeated in a competition or battle.

vencido(Adjective)

mB1

defeated

competition or battle

beaten

sports

Also:

overcome

in a struggle or contest

📝 In Action

El boxeador se sentía vencido después del nocaut.

The boxer felt defeated after the knockout.

Aunque la situación era difícil, no se dio por vencido.

Even though the situation was difficult, he didn't give up (didn't declare himself beaten).

Word Connections

Synonyms

derrotado (defeated)
superado (overcome)

Antonyms

invicto (undefeated)
victorioso (victorious)

Common Collocations

darse por vencido – to give up

💡 Grammar Points

Agreement is Key

As an adjective, 'vencido' must change its ending to match the person or thing it describes: 'vencida' (f.), 'vencidos' (m. plural), 'vencidas' (f. plural).

⭐ Usage Tips

Feeling Defeated

Use 'sentirse vencido' (to feel defeated) to describe an emotional state after a loss, not just a physical one.

A half-eaten green apple covered in visible brown spots and mold, sitting on a wooden counter, indicating it is expired.

Food that is past its usable date is considered vencido, or expired.

vencido(Adjective)

mB2

expired

date or deadline

overdue

payment or bill

Also:

matured

loan or bond

due

upcoming deadline

📝 In Action

Tenemos que pagar la renta antes de que esté vencida.

We have to pay the rent before it is overdue.

El plazo para entregar los documentos está vencido.

The deadline for submitting the documents has expired.

Me di cuenta de que mi pasaporte estaba vencido.

I realized that my passport was expired.

Word Connections

Synonyms

caducado (expired (often for food/products))
pendiente (pending (often for bills))

Antonyms

vigente (valid)
a tiempo (on time)

Common Collocations

fecha de vencimiento – expiration date
documento vencido – expired document

💡 Grammar Points

Time vs. Food

In Spanish, 'vencido' usually refers to deadlines, contracts, or official documents. For food or medication that has gone bad, it is often more natural to use 'caducado'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using 'Ser' vs. 'Estar'

Mistake: "Mi pasaporte es vencido."

Correction: Mi pasaporte está vencido. Use 'estar' because expiration is a temporary state or condition of the object, not a permanent characteristic.

⭐ Usage Tips

The Noun Form

The related noun 'vencimiento' is key for financial terms, meaning 'expiration' or 'due date' (e.g., 'fecha de vencimiento').

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: vencido

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly uses 'vencido' in its administrative meaning?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

vencer(to defeat; to expire) - verb

vencimiento(expiration; due date) - noun

invencible(invincible) - adjective

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'vencido' only used as an adjective?

No, it is the past participle of the verb 'vencer.' This means you will see it used in perfect tenses, like 'He has expired the contract' (*Él ha vencido el contrato*). However, its most common and independent use is as an adjective meaning 'defeated' or 'expired.'

What is the difference between 'vencido' and 'caducado'?

Both mean 'expired,' but 'vencido' is usually preferred for time periods, deadlines, documents, and bills. 'Caducado' is typically reserved for things that have an expiration date related to consumption, like food, medicine, or cosmetics.