Inklingo

How to Say "exhausted" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “exhausted” is “agotado” — use 'agotado' when you are completely drained physically or mentally, often from prolonged effort or lack of rest..

agotado🔊A2

Use 'agotado' when you are completely drained physically or mentally, often from prolonged effort or lack of rest.

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cansado🔊A1

Use 'cansado' for a general state of tiredness or being drained of energy, often after a normal day's work or activity.

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muerta🔊A2

Use 'muerta' figuratively to express extreme tiredness, as if one's energy has completely died.

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destruida🔊B1

Use 'destruida' to convey feeling utterly wiped out, often due to a significant emotional or physical shock.

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llevado🔊B1

Use 'llevado' to describe being very tired and worn out, especially after a long or demanding period of work.

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matado🔊B1

Use 'matado' informally to express extreme physical or mental exhaustion, implying you feel like you've been 'killed' by the work.

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hecha🔊B2

Use 'hecha polvo' to describe being completely physically or emotionally drained, as if reduced to dust.

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pedazos🔊B2

Use 'estar hecho pedazos' to convey being totally exhausted or wrecked, both physically and emotionally.

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terminado🔊B2

Use 'terminado' to indicate that your energy is completely spent and you have reached your limit, often after a long day.

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tirado🔊B2

Use 'tirado' to express being completely worn out physically or mentally, often implying a state of collapse.

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frito🔊C1

Use 'frito' informally to mean completely exhausted, as if you've been 'fried' by the effort.

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English → Spanish

agotado

ah-goh-TAH-doh/a.ɣoˈta.ðo/

adjectiveA2general
Use 'agotado' when you are completely drained physically or mentally, often from prolonged effort or lack of rest.
A cartoon bear cub, clearly tired, slumped over and asleep right after crossing a finish line.

Examples

Llegué a casa después del trabajo y estaba completamente agotado.

I arrived home after work and I was completely exhausted.

Mi madre se siente agotada de tanto cuidar a los niños.

My mother feels worn out from taking care of the children so much.

Hemos agotado todos los intentos de financiación.

We have exhausted all attempts at financing.

Si hubieras agotado tu energía antes, no habrías ganado la carrera.

If you had used up your energy earlier, you wouldn't have won the race.

Adjective Agreement

'Agotado' is an adjective, so it must change its ending to match the person or thing it describes: 'agotado' (masc. singular), 'agotada' (fem. singular), 'agotados' (masc. plural), 'agotadas' (fem. plural).

Use in Perfect Tenses

As a past participle, 'agotado' combines with the verb 'haber' (to have) to form perfect tenses, like 'Ha agotado' (He/She/It has used up).

Using 'Ser' instead of 'Estar'

Mistake: “Soy agotado.”

Correction: Use 'Estoy agotado.' because exhaustion is a temporary state or condition, which requires the verb 'estar'.

cansado

/kan-SA-dos//kanˈsaðos/

adjectiveA1general
Use 'cansado' for a general state of tiredness or being drained of energy, often after a normal day's work or activity.
A small child sleeping soundly on a soft green beanbag chair.

Examples

Mis padres están cansados después de trabajar todo el día.

My parents are tired after working all day.

Los niños llegaron cansados de la excursión.

The children arrived tired from the field trip.

Estamos muy cansados por el viaje.

We are very tired because of the trip.

The '-os' Ending

The 'os' at the end tells you that we are talking about more than one person, and either they are all male or the group is a mix of males and females.

Using 'Estar'

Since being tired is usually a temporary feeling, always use the verb 'estar' (to be) instead of 'ser'.

Using 'Ser' instead of 'Estar'

Mistake: “Somos cansados.”

Correction: Estamos cansados. Use 'estar' because tiredness is a state that changes, not a permanent personality trait.

muerta

/MWER-tah//ˈmweɾta/

adjectiveA2informal
Use 'muerta' figuratively to express extreme tiredness, as if one's energy has completely died.
A close-up illustration of a single, completely wilted, brown, and dry flower lying on the earth, symbolizing something that is dead.

Examples

La flor que me regalaste está muerta.

The flower you gave me is dead.

Después de la maratón, llegué a casa muerta.

After the marathon, I got home exhausted.

Se me quedó la pierna muerta después de estar sentada tanto tiempo.

My leg went numb after sitting for so long.

Matches the Noun

As an adjective, 'muerta' must agree with the feminine thing it describes. For a masculine noun, you'd use 'muerto'. Example: 'la planta muerta' (the dead plant), 'el árbol muerto' (the dead tree).

Use with 'Estar', not 'Ser'

To say something is dead, you almost always use the verb 'estar' (e.g., 'La mosca está muerta'). Using 'ser' is very rare and sounds unnatural in most situations.

Past Participle of 'Morir'

'Muerta' is also a special form of the verb 'morir' (to die), called a past participle. This is why it can describe the result of that action, like 'a dead flower' is a flower that has died.

Gender Agreement

Mistake: “La flor está muerto.”

Correction: La flor está muerta. Because 'flor' is a feminine word, the adjective describing it must also be feminine.

destruida

/des-troo-EE-dah//desˈtɾwiða/

adjectiveB1general
Use 'destruida' to convey feeling utterly wiped out, often due to a significant emotional or physical shock.
A sad person sitting on a park bench with their head in their hands, looking very upset.

Examples

Ella quedó destruida después de la ruptura.

She was devastated after the breakup.

Estoy destruida tras correr el maratón.

I'm wiped out after running the marathon.

Describing People

When used for a person, it's almost always feminine in this form ('Ella está destruida'). If you are a woman, you say 'Estoy destruida'.

llevado

/yeh-VAH-doh//ʎeˈβa.ðo/

adjectiveB1general
Use 'llevado' to describe being very tired and worn out, especially after a long or demanding period of work.
A cartoon rabbit lying flat on the ground, sweat dripping from its brow, looking completely worn out.

Examples

Los trabajadores estaban muy llevados después de la jornada extra.

The workers were very worn out/exhausted after the extra shift.

Me siento tan llevado por el estrés de los exámenes.

I feel so worn out by the stress of the exams.

Using 'Estar' for States

This meaning always uses the verb estar because it describes a temporary physical or emotional state: 'Estoy llevado' (I am exhausted).

matado

mah-TAH-doh/maˈtaðo/

adjectiveB1informal
Use 'matado' informally to express extreme physical or mental exhaustion, implying you feel like you've been 'killed' by the work.
A storybook illustration of a student completely exhausted, slumped over a wooden desk with their eyes closed.

Examples

Llegué a casa matado después del turno de diez horas.

I got home exhausted after the ten-hour shift.

Mi hermana está matada con los exámenes finales; no ha dormido bien.

My sister is worn out from final exams; she hasn't slept well.

Masculine vs. Feminine

Since this is an adjective, make sure it matches the person you are describing: 'Estoy matado' (if male) or 'Estoy matada' (if female).

Using 'ser' instead of 'estar'

Mistake: “Soy matado.”

Correction: Estoy matado. Use 'estar' because exhaustion is a temporary state, not a permanent characteristic.

hecha

AY-chah/ˈe.tʃa/

adjectiveB2informal
Use 'hecha polvo' to describe being completely physically or emotionally drained, as if reduced to dust.
A small, friendly cartoon dog lying completely flat on its back on a grassy field, panting slightly with its eyes closed, appearing completely physically drained.

Examples

Después de correr la maratón, estaba hecha polvo.

After running the marathon, she was absolutely exhausted (made dust).

Tras la noticia, su moral estaba hecha trizas.

After the news, her morale was shattered (made shreds).

Fixed Idioms

These phrases are fixed expressions. You must use 'estar' and ensure 'hecha' agrees with the subject (e.g., 'Yo estoy hecha polvo' if the speaker is female).

pedazos

peh-DAH-sos/peˈða.θos/

nounB2informal
Use 'estar hecho pedazos' to convey being totally exhausted or wrecked, both physically and emotionally.
A simple cartoon figure sitting alone on a wooden bench, hunched over with their head in their hands, conveying deep sadness and emotional distress.

Examples

Después de correr la maratón, estaba hecho pedazos.

After running the marathon, I was totally exhausted/wrecked.

La crítica hizo pedazos su nueva novela.

The review tore her new novel to shreds (destroyed it completely).

Me sentí hecha pedazos cuando se fue.

I felt shattered/broken when he left.

Using 'Hecho'

In the common phrase 'estar hecho pedazos,' notice that 'hecho' (made) must match the gender of the person speaking ('hecho' for masculine, 'hecha' for feminine), even though 'pedazos' is masculine plural.

terminado

/ter-mee-NAH-doh//teɾ.miˈna.ðo/

adjectiveB2general
Use 'terminado' to indicate that your energy is completely spent and you have reached your limit, often after a long day.
A cartoonish figure lying flat on their back on the ground, completely motionless and wiped out after a long effort.

Examples

Después de trabajar 12 horas, estoy terminado.

After working 12 hours, I'm exhausted.

Este coche está terminado, no creo que arranque.

This car is finished, I don't think it will start.

Las chicas llegaron terminadas del viaje.

The girls arrived worn out from the trip.

Describing a State of Being

Just like when it means 'finished', this meaning uses the verb 'estar' because being exhausted is a temporary state. 'Estoy terminado' (I'm exhausted).

tirado

tee-RAH-doh/tiˈɾa.ðo/

adjectiveB2general
Use 'tirado' to express being completely worn out physically or mentally, often implying a state of collapse.
A cartoon runner slumped over, sweating heavily, looking completely exhausted after finishing an activity.

Examples

Después de trabajar doce horas, llegué a casa tirado.

After working twelve hours, I arrived home exhausted.

Ella estaba tirada de la tristeza por las malas noticias.

She was worn out with sadness because of the bad news.

Figurative Use

This meaning is figurative, meaning you are 'thrown down' by exhaustion. It emphasizes a complete lack of energy.

frito

FREE-toh/ˈfɾito/

adjectiveC1informal
Use 'frito' informally to mean completely exhausted, as if you've been 'fried' by the effort.
A small, cartoonish figure sitting slumped on the ground with their head resting on their knees, indicating extreme tiredness or exhaustion.

Examples

Después de correr la maratón, estoy completamente frito.

After running the marathon, I am completely exhausted.

Si llegas tarde al aeropuerto, estás frito, pierdes el vuelo.

If you arrive late to the airport, you are done for; you'll miss the flight.

Used with 'Estar'

This figurative meaning almost always uses the verb 'estar' (to be temporarily) because it describes a temporary state of feeling tired or being in trouble.

agotado

ah-goh-TAH-doh/a.ɣoˈta.ðo/

past participleB2general
Use 'agotado' as a past participle to mean that something has been fully consumed or used up.
A cartoon bear cub, clearly tired, slumped over and asleep right after crossing a finish line.

Examples

Hemos agotado todos los intentos de financiación.

We have exhausted all attempts at financing.

Llegué a casa después del trabajo y estaba completamente agotado.

I arrived home after work and I was completely exhausted.

Mi madre se siente agotada de tanto cuidar a los niños.

My mother feels worn out from taking care of the children so much.

Si hubieras agotado tu energía antes, no habrías ganado la carrera.

If you had used up your energy earlier, you wouldn't have won the race.

Adjective Agreement

'Agotado' is an adjective, so it must change its ending to match the person or thing it describes: 'agotado' (masc. singular), 'agotada' (fem. singular), 'agotados' (masc. plural), 'agotadas' (fem. plural).

Use in Perfect Tenses

As a past participle, 'agotado' combines with the verb 'haber' (to have) to form perfect tenses, like 'Ha agotado' (He/She/It has used up).

Using 'Ser' instead of 'Estar'

Mistake: “Soy agotado.”

Correction: Use 'Estoy agotado.' because exhaustion is a temporary state or condition, which requires the verb 'estar'.

Choosing between 'agotado' and 'cansado'

The most common mistake is using 'cansado' when you mean 'agotado'. While 'cansado' simply means tired, 'agotado' implies a much deeper level of exhaustion, often from overexertion or prolonged stress. Think of 'cansado' as tired and 'agotado' as depleted.

Related Translations

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