How to Say "betrayed" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “betrayed” is “traicionado” — use 'traicionado' when describing the feeling or state of having been deceived or let down by someone you trusted..
traicionado
trah-see-oh-NAH-doh/tɾai.sjoˈna.ðo/
Examples
El presidente se sintió traicionado por su propio equipo.
The president felt betrayed by his own team.
Ella parecía una mujer traicionada, con lágrimas en los ojos.
She looked like a betrayed woman, with tears in her eyes.
No puedo creer que su socio lo haya dejado traicionado y solo.
I can't believe his partner left him betrayed and alone.
Hemos traicionado su confianza demasiadas veces.
We have betrayed their trust too many times.
Agreement Rule
Like all Spanish adjectives, 'traicionado' must change its ending to match the person or thing it describes: 'traicionada' (feminine singular), 'traicionados' (masculine plural), 'traicionadas' (feminine plural).
The Perfect Tense Builder
'Traicionado' is the past participle, meaning it teams up with forms of the verb 'haber' (to have) to describe actions completed in the past. It always stays in the masculine singular form (-o) in these constructions.
Always -ado
Unlike the adjective form, when used with 'haber' to build a verb tense, 'traicionado' never changes its ending, regardless of who did the betraying: 'Yo he traicionado', 'Nosotros hemos traicionado'.
Forgetting Gender
Mistake: “La mujer estaba traicionado.”
Correction: La mujer estaba traicionada. (Remember to use the -a ending for female subjects.)
Confusing Participle and Adjective
Mistake: “Hemos traicionadas las reglas. (Using the feminine ending with 'haber')”
Correction: Hemos traicionado las reglas. (When paired with 'haber', the participle always uses the '-o' ending.)
traicionó
/try-syo-NOH//tɾaj.sjoˈno/
Examples
Él traicionó la confianza de su mejor amigo.
He betrayed his best friend's trust.
Ella traicionó a su país durante la guerra.
She betrayed her country during the war.
Usted me traicionó cuando más lo necesitaba.
You (formal) let me down when I needed it most.
The Importance of the Accent Mark
The accent on the 'ó' tells you that the action was done by 'he', 'she', or 'it' and that it happened in the past. Without the accent (traiciono), it would mean 'I betray' in the present.
Confusing 'traicionó' with 'traiciono'
Mistake: “Saying 'Él traiciono' instead of 'Él traicionó'.”
Correction: Use 'traicionó' with the accent when talking about what someone else did in the past. Use 'traiciono' only when saying what you are doing right now.
vendió
/ben-DYOH//benˈdjo/
Examples
Todo el equipo sintió que el capitán los vendió por un contrato mejor.
The whole team felt the captain sold them out for a better contract.
La prensa dijo que el político vendió sus principios.
The press said the politician compromised his principles.
Figurative Use
In this sense, 'vendió' doesn't mean exchanging for money, but rather sacrificing loyalty or principles for personal gain.
prostitutas
proh-stee-TOO-tahs/pɾos.tiˈtu.tas/
Examples
Las ideas originales de la fundación fueron prostitutas por la codicia.
The original ideas of the foundation were prostituted (corrupted) by greed.
Acusó a las instituciones de ser prostitutas a los intereses privados.
He accused the institutions of being prostituted (sold out) to private interests.
Past Participle as Adjective
This form acts like an adjective, derived from the verb 'prostituir' (to prostitute/corrupt). It must agree in gender and number with the noun it describes.
Traicionado vs. Traicionó
Related Translations
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