Inklingo

How to Say "experienced" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “experienced” is “experimentado” — use 'experimentado' as a verb when you want to say that someone has personally undergone or felt something, often implying a process of learning or change..

experimentado🔊B1

Use 'experimentado' as a verb when you want to say that someone has personally undergone or felt something, often implying a process of learning or change.

{ui.learnMore}
vivido🔊B1

Use 'vivido' as an adjective to describe a person who is worldly and knowledgeable due to having lived through many different situations or events.

{ui.learnMore}
vivióB1

Use 'vivió' (preterite of vivir) when referring to a specific event, period, or emotion that someone lived through or underwent in the past.

{ui.learnMore}
conocióB2

Use 'conoció' (preterite of conocer) to indicate that a place, country, or entity underwent or encountered a specific event or situation.

{ui.learnMore}
viajado🔊B1

Use 'viajado' as an adjective to describe someone who has traveled extensively and has broad knowledge of different places and cultures.

{ui.learnMore}
jugado🔊B1

Use 'jugado' informally as an adjective to describe something, like a game, that was played, implying it was exciting or well-executed.

{ui.learnMore}
experta🔊A2

Use 'experta' (feminine form) to describe a woman who has a high level of skill and knowledge in a specific area, often implying precision and mastery.

{ui.learnMore}
sintióA1

Use 'sintió' (preterite of sentir) when referring to a specific emotion or physical sensation that someone felt at a particular moment.

{ui.learnMore}
English → Spanish

experimentado

/ex-peh-ree-men-TAH-doh//ekspeɾimenˈtaðo/

verbB1general
Use 'experimentado' as a verb when you want to say that someone has personally undergone or felt something, often implying a process of learning or change.
An elderly gardener with weathered hands skillfully pruning a blooming rose bush with precise tools.

Examples

He experimentado muchos cambios este año.

I have experienced many changes this year.

Necesitamos un guía experimentado para subir la montaña.

We need an experienced guide to climb the mountain.

Es un actor muy experimentado en el teatro.

He is a very seasoned actor in the theater.

El científico ha experimentado con nuevas medicinas.

The scientist has experimented with new medicines.

Matching the word to the person

Since this is an adjective, remember to change the ending to 'experimentada' if you are describing a woman or a feminine object.

The 'Finished Action' Form

When used as a verb, 'experimentado' usually follows the word 'he', 'has', 'ha', etc., to show something you have already done.

Using 'con experiencia' vs 'experimentado'

Mistake: “Using 'un hombre con experimentado'.”

Correction: Say 'un hombre experimentado' or 'un hombre con experiencia'. You don't need 'con' (with) before 'experimentado' because it already describes the person.

vivido

vee-VEE-doh/biˈβi.ðo/

adjectiveB1general
Use 'vivido' as an adjective to describe a person who is worldly and knowledgeable due to having lived through many different situations or events.
A close-up illustration of a kind, elderly person with a serene expression, holding a sturdy wooden walking stick. They look wise and calm.

Examples

Mi abuela es una mujer muy vivida y tiene consejos para todo.

My grandmother is a very worldly woman and has advice for everything.

Se nota que ha sido un viaje vivido, ¡mira esas fotos!

You can tell it was an intense trip; look at those photos!

Nunca he vivido en una ciudad tan grande.

I have never lived in such a big city.

¿Ya habías vivido esto antes?

Had you experienced this before?

Changing Forms

Like most Spanish adjectives, 'vivido' must match the person or thing it describes in gender and number: 'un hombre vivido' (experienced man) but 'unas personas vividas' (experienced people).

Perfect Tenses Helper

'Vivido' is the special form of 'vivir' that teams up with the verb 'haber' (to have) to describe actions completed in the past: 'Hemos vivido' (We have lived).

Don't use 'tener'

Mistake: “Using 'tener' instead of 'haber' to form perfect tenses: 'Tengo vivido...'”

Correction: Always use a form of 'haber' (he, has, ha, hemos, han) before 'vivido' when talking about past actions: 'He vivido...'

experimentado

/ex-peh-ree-men-TAH-doh//ekspeɾimenˈtaðo/

adjectiveB1general
Use 'experimentado' as an adjective to describe a person who has gained significant skill or knowledge in a particular field through long practice.
An elderly gardener with weathered hands skillfully pruning a blooming rose bush with precise tools.

Examples

Necesitamos un guía experimentado para subir la montaña.

We need an experienced guide to climb the mountain.

Es un actor muy experimentado en el teatro.

He is a very seasoned actor in the theater.

He experimentado muchos cambios este año.

I have experienced many changes this year.

El científico ha experimentado con nuevas medicinas.

The scientist has experimented with new medicines.

Matching the word to the person

Since this is an adjective, remember to change the ending to 'experimentada' if you are describing a woman or a feminine object.

The 'Finished Action' Form

When used as a verb, 'experimentado' usually follows the word 'he', 'has', 'ha', etc., to show something you have already done.

Using 'con experiencia' vs 'experimentado'

Mistake: “Using 'un hombre con experimentado'.”

Correction: Say 'un hombre experimentado' or 'un hombre con experiencia'. You don't need 'con' (with) before 'experimentado' because it already describes the person.

vivió

verbB1general
Use 'vivió' (preterite of vivir) when referring to a specific event, period, or emotion that someone lived through or underwent in the past.

Examples

Mi abuela vivió la Segunda Guerra Mundial.

My grandmother experienced the Second World War.

conoció

verbB2general
Use 'conoció' (preterite of conocer) to indicate that a place, country, or entity underwent or encountered a specific event or situation.

Examples

El país conoció una grave crisis económica el año pasado.

The country experienced a severe economic crisis last year.

viajado

bee-ah-HAH-doh/bjaˈxaðo/

adjectiveB1general
Use 'viajado' as an adjective to describe someone who has traveled extensively and has broad knowledge of different places and cultures.
A suitcase covered in many colorful postage stamps and travel stickers from different countries.

Examples

Mi abuelo es un hombre muy viajado; conoce casi toda Europa.

My grandfather is a very well-traveled man; he knows almost all of Europe.

Para ser tan joven, ella es una persona muy viajada.

For being so young, she is a very well-traveled person.

Matching the Person

When using this as a describing word, remember to change the ending to 'viajada' if you are talking about a woman.

jugado

hoo-GAH-doh/xuˈɣaðo/

adjectiveB1informal/regional
Use 'jugado' informally as an adjective to describe something, like a game, that was played, implying it was exciting or well-executed.
A deck of playing cards lightly scattered across a wooden table next to an empty glass, illustrating that the activity of playing is finished.

Examples

El partido jugado ayer fue el mejor de la temporada.

The game played yesterday was the best of the season.

No te preocupes por él, es un hombre muy jugado y sabe lo que hace.

Don't worry about him, he's a very experienced/street-smart man and knows what he's doing.

Fue una jugada muy jugada, pudimos perderlo todo.

It was a very risky move; we could have lost everything.

Adjective Agreement

When 'jugado' acts as an adjective, it must change its ending to match the noun it describes: 'el partido jugado' (masculine singular), 'las cartas jugadas' (feminine plural).

Mixing Adjective and Participle

Mistake: “La mesa está jugado.”

Correction: If you are using it as an adjective with 'estar' or 'ser', it must agree in gender and number. Correction: 'La mesa está jugada' (feminine singular).

experta

/eks-PEHR-tah//eksˈpeɾta/

adjectiveA2general
Use 'experta' (feminine form) to describe a woman who has a high level of skill and knowledge in a specific area, often implying precision and mastery.
A woman skillfully playing a cello with perfect form and concentration.

Examples

La cirujana tiene una mano experta.

The surgeon has an expert hand.

Es una guía muy experta en la montaña.

She is a very experienced guide on the mountain.

Matching the word it describes

Use this form when describing 'feminine' words (words that usually end in -a or use 'la'). For example: 'la ayuda experta' (the expert help).

sintió

verbA1general
Use 'sintió' (preterite of sentir) when referring to a specific emotion or physical sensation that someone felt at a particular moment.

Examples

Ella sintió una gran tristeza al irse.

She felt great sadness upon leaving.

vivido

vee-VEE-doh/biˈβi.ðo/

past participleA1general
Use 'vivido' as a past participle to form compound tenses, indicating that someone has lived in a particular place or experienced a certain way of life.
A close-up illustration of a kind, elderly person with a serene expression, holding a sturdy wooden walking stick. They look wise and calm.

Examples

Nunca he vivido en una ciudad tan grande.

I have never lived in such a big city.

Mi abuela es una mujer muy vivida y tiene consejos para todo.

My grandmother is a very worldly woman and has advice for everything.

Se nota que ha sido un viaje vivido, ¡mira esas fotos!

You can tell it was an intense trip; look at those photos!

¿Ya habías vivido esto antes?

Had you experienced this before?

Changing Forms

Like most Spanish adjectives, 'vivido' must match the person or thing it describes in gender and number: 'un hombre vivido' (experienced man) but 'unas personas vividas' (experienced people).

Perfect Tenses Helper

'Vivido' is the special form of 'vivir' that teams up with the verb 'haber' (to have) to describe actions completed in the past: 'Hemos vivido' (We have lived).

Don't use 'tener'

Mistake: “Using 'tener' instead of 'haber' to form perfect tenses: 'Tengo vivido...'”

Correction: Always use a form of 'haber' (he, has, ha, hemos, han) before 'vivido' when talking about past actions: 'He vivido...'

Verb vs. Adjective: 'Experimentado' and 'Vivido'

Learners often confuse 'experimentado' and 'vivido' when describing people. Remember that 'experimentado' usually implies skill from practice, while 'vivido' implies worldly wisdom from life events. Also, be careful not to confuse the verb 'experimentado' (to undergo) with the adjective (skilled).

Related Translations

Learn Spanish with Inklingo

Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.