How to Say "frozen" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “frozen” is “congelado” — use 'congelado' when something is literally turned into ice or preserved by freezing, like food, or when a computer screen or financial assets are temporarily unresponsive due to a technical issue..
congelado
/kohn-heh-LAH-doh//koŋxeˈlaðo/
Examples
El helado se derritió porque el congelador estaba apagado.
The ice cream melted because the freezer was off.
El pollo está congelado, tenemos que esperar.
The chicken is frozen; we have to wait.
Tengo los pies congelados por la nieve.
My feet are ice-cold because of the snow.
La imagen se quedó congelada durante la llamada.
The image froze during the call.
Matching the word to the item
This word changes its ending to 'congelada' if you are describing something feminine, like 'la carne' (the meat).
Using it for people
Mistake: “Soy congelado.”
Correction: Estoy congelado.
helado
/eh-LAH-doh//eˈlaðo/
Examples
No te metas en el mar, el agua está helada.
Don't go into the sea, the water is icy cold.
El agua de la piscina está helada.
The water in the pool is icy cold (frozen).
Me quedé helado cuando escuché la noticia.
I was stunned (frozen/shocked) when I heard the news.
Tuvimos que descongelar la carne helada.
We had to thaw the frozen meat.
Agreement
As an adjective, 'helado' must change its ending to match the noun it describes: 'el café helado' (masculine singular), 'la bebida helada' (feminine singular), 'los pies helados' (masculine plural).
Forgetting Agreement
Mistake: “El agua está helado.”
Correction: El agua está helada. Remember that 'agua' is feminine, even though it uses 'el' in the singular, so the adjective must be feminine.
bloqueado
/blo-kay-AH-tho//blo.keˈa.ðo/
Examples
La policía ha bloqueado la carretera debido al accidente.
The police have blocked the road due to the accident.
El acceso a la calle está bloqueado por el camión.
Access to the street is blocked by the truck.
Mi cuenta del banco está bloqueada y no puedo sacar dinero.
My bank account is frozen and I can't take out money.
He bloqueado a mi ex en todas las redes sociales.
I have blocked my ex on all social media.
Using with 'Estar'
Since being 'blocked' is usually a result of an action or a temporary state, we almost always use the verb 'estar' (to be) with this word.
Matching Gender
Remember to change the ending to 'bloqueada' if the thing you are describing is feminine, like 'la calle' (the street).
Frozen vs. Blocked
Mistake: “Using 'helado' for a frozen bank account.”
Correction: Use 'bloqueado' for digital or financial accounts; 'helado' is only for things that are cold like ice cream!
colgado
/kol-GAH-doh//kolˈɡaðo/
Examples
Mi ordenador se ha colgado y he perdido todo mi trabajo.
My computer froze and I lost all my work.
La aplicación se quedó colgada justo cuando iba a guardar mi trabajo.
The application froze just when I was about to save my work.
Cuando la pantalla se pone colgada, tienes que reiniciar el equipo.
When the screen gets stuck/frozen, you have to restart the equipment.
The 'Stuck' Feeling
This meaning comes from the idea of being physically suspended and unable to move. It is almost always used with the verb 'quedarse' (to remain/become) to describe the process of getting stuck: 'se quedó colgado'.
Computers freezing vs. being blocked
Learn Spanish with Inklingo
Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.