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How to Say "detached" in Spanish

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separado

seh-pah-RAH-dohse.paˈɾa.ðo

past participleA2general
Use 'separado' when referring to the result of an action of physically or conceptually dividing things, like separating items into categories or ending a relationship.
A thick piece of brown rope that has been cleanly cut into two distinct pieces, lying on a wooden surface, illustrating the result of an action.

Examples

Hemos separado la basura orgánica de la inorgánica.

We have separated the organic trash from the inorganic.

El niño fue separado de sus padres en el tumulto.

The child was separated from his parents in the commotion.

Forming Perfect Tenses

When used with 'haber' (to have), 'separado' never changes its ending, regardless of who did the action. It always stays '-ado'!

Passive Voice

When used with 'ser' (to be) to show that something received an action, 'separado' acts like an adjective and must match the thing it describes (e.g., 'La mesa fue separada').

alejado

ah-leh-HAH-dohaleˈxaðo

adjectiveB1general
Choose 'alejado' when you want to express an emotional or mental distance from people or situations, implying a lack of connection or involvement.
A storybook illustration of two simplified figures sitting side-by-side on a wooden bench. One figure is enclosed within a faint, transparent bubble, emphasizing their emotional detachment from the other figure.

Examples

Se sentía alejado de su familia después de la discusión.

He felt detached from his family after the argument.

Sus ideas están muy alejadas de la realidad actual.

His ideas are very removed from the current reality.

Figurative Distance

Just like physical distance, emotional or conceptual distance also uses 'alejado de...'. You can be 'alejado del problema' (removed from the problem) or 'alejado de sus sentimientos' (detached from your feelings).

Confusing 'alejado' and 'lejos'

Mistake: “Using 'El pueblo es muy lejos.'”

Correction: Use 'El pueblo está muy alejado' or 'El pueblo está muy lejos.' 'Alejado' is an adjective that changes form; 'lejos' is an adverb that stays the same.

divorciado

dee-bor-syah-dohdiβoɾˈsjaðo

adjectiveA2general
Use 'divorciado' in a figurative sense to describe someone who is disconnected from a situation or group, often implying a formal or definitive break.
A wooden wedding ring split neatly into two separate halves on a plain surface.

Examples

Mi hermano está divorciado desde hace dos años.

My brother has been divorced for two years.

Él es un hombre divorciado que vive en Madrid.

He is a divorced man who lives in Madrid.

A veces parece que el gobierno está divorciado de la realidad.

Sometimes it seems like the government is out of touch with reality.

Use with 'Estar'

Use 'estar' (to be) to describe the person's current state. Even though a divorce is permanent, Spanish views marital status as a state or condition.

Gender Agreement

This specific word 'divorciado' only describes a man. If you are describing a woman, you must change the ending to -a (divorciada).

Using the wrong 'To Be'

Mistake: “Soy divorciado.”

Correction: Estoy divorciado. Use 'estar' because being divorced is a status, not an unchanging personality trait.

Separado vs. Alejado

Learners often confuse 'separado' and 'alejado'. Remember that 'separado' usually implies a physical or definitive division (like separating objects or ending a marriage), while 'alejado' describes an emotional or mental distance from people or circumstances.

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