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How to Say "neglected" in Spanish

English → Spanish

abandonado

ah-bahn-doh-NAH-doh/aβan̪doˈnaðo/

AdjectiveA2General
Use 'abandonado' when referring to a place or object that has been deserted or left uncared for over a significant period, often implying decay or disuse.
A worn-out, dirty teddy bear with a missing button eye lying alone on a dusty wooden floor.

Examples

El viejo cine está abandonado y lleno de escombros.

The old cinema is neglected (abandoned) and full of rubble.

Esta fábrica ha estado abandonada por veinte años.

This factory has been abandoned (run-down) for twenty years.

Compramos un coche muy abandonado, pero lo arreglaremos.

We bought a very neglected car, but we will fix it.

Adjective Agreement

Like all Spanish adjectives, 'abandonado' must match the gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural) of the noun it describes: 'un perro abandonado' (M, S) vs. 'las sillas abandonadas' (F, P).

Misusing Ser vs. Estar

Mistake: “La casa es abandonada.”

Correction: La casa está abandonada. Use 'estar' because 'abandonado' describes the current state or condition of the house, not its permanent identity.

dejado

/de-HA-do//deˈxa.ðo/

AdjectiveB1General
Choose 'dejado' when describing a place or a person's responsibilities that are not being properly maintained or attended to, suggesting a lack of current care.
An image of an outdoor garden plot completely overgrown with weeds and wild grass, illustrating the state of being neglected.

Examples

Mi hermano tiene el jardín muy dejado este año.

My brother's garden is very neglected this year.

El jardín está un poco dejado, necesita cuidado.

The garden is a bit neglected, it needs some care.

Desde que perdió el trabajo, anda muy dejado en su aspecto.

Since he lost his job, he's been very unkempt in his appearance.

La casa se sentía fría y dejada.

The house felt cold and abandoned.

Making it Match

As an adjective, dejado must change to match the thing it describes. Use dejado for masculine things (el jardín dejado) and dejada for feminine things (la casa dejada). Make it plural with -s for more than one (los parques dejados).

Forgetting to Match Gender

Mistake: “La oficina está muy dejado.”

Correction: La oficina está muy *dejada*. Since `oficina` is a feminine word, the adjective describing it needs to end in `-a`.

olvidado

ohl-vee-THAH-doh/ol.βiˈða.ðo/

AdjectiveB1General
Use 'olvidado' when something has been literally forgotten or ignored, emphasizing the lack of attention or remembrance rather than physical decay.
A small, faded, dusty teddy bear sitting alone on a wooden floor in a dimly lit room, suggesting it has been neglected and forgotten.

Examples

Guardamos los juguetes olvidados en el trastero.

We keep the neglected (forgotten) toys in the storage room.

Encontré una caja de viejas cartas olvidadas en el ático.

I found a box of old forgotten letters in the attic.

El barrio se sentía abandonado y olvidado por las autoridades de la ciudad.

The neighborhood felt abandoned and neglected by the city authorities.

Era un héroe olvidado hasta que hicieron un documental sobre su vida.

He was a forgotten hero until they made a documentary about his life.

Match the Noun

As a descriptive word (adjective), 'olvidado' must change its ending to match the thing it describes. Use 'olvidada' for feminine singular, 'olvidados' for masculine plural, and 'olvidadas' for feminine plural.

Place vs. Person/Duty vs. Forgotten

Learners often confuse 'abandonado' and 'dejado'. Remember that 'abandonado' implies a longer-term state of disuse or desertion, often for places, while 'dejado' suggests a more recent or ongoing lack of care for something that should be maintained, like a garden or duties.

Related Translations

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