What is the difference between "pasado", "quemado" in Spanish?

The English word 'overcooked' can be translated into Spanish in a few ways, depending on the specific nuance. While both 'pasado' and 'quemado' can describe food cooked too long, they carry slightly different connotations.

How to Say "overcooked" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “overcooked” is “pasado” — use 'pasado' when food has been cooked for too long, resulting in a texture or flavor that is past its prime, but not necessarily burnt..

pasado🔊A1

Use 'pasado' when food has been cooked for too long, resulting in a texture or flavor that is past its prime, but not necessarily burnt.

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quemado🔊A2

Use 'quemado' specifically when food has been cooked so long that it has started to burn or char.

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English → Spanish

pasado

/pa-SA-do//paˈsa.ðo/

adjectiveA1general

Use 'pasado' when food has been cooked for too long, resulting in a texture or flavor that is past its prime, but not necessarily burnt.

A very hard, dry, and slightly moldy piece of bread sitting on a simple wooden surface, illustrating staleness.

Examples

El arroz está un poco pasado, no lo cocinaste demasiado tiempo?

The rice is a bit overcooked, didn't you cook it too long?

El año pasado viajé a México.

Last year I traveled to Mexico.

La semana pasada no tuvimos clase.

Last week we didn't have class.

El arroz está un poco pasado, pero se puede comer.

The rice is a little overcooked, but it's edible.

Making it Match

'Pasado' is like a chameleon. It changes its ending to match the word it's describing. Use 'pasado' for masculine words (el año pasado) and 'pasada' for feminine words (la semana pasada).

Where does it go?

When talking about time, 'pasado' almost always comes right after the noun it describes, like in 'el fin de semana pasado' (last weekend).

Also a Verb Part

You'll also see 'pasado' used with the verb 'haber' to talk about things that 'have happened'. For example, 'He pasado un buen día' (I have had a good day). Here, it's part of the verb 'pasar'.

Pasado vs. Último

Mistake: “Using 'último' to mean 'last year'.”

Correction: 'El año pasado' means 'the year before this one' (e.g., 2023). 'El último año' means 'the final year' (e.g., the last year of college). For time periods just before now, stick with 'pasado'.

See full entry for “pasado” →

quemado

/keh-MAH-doh//keˈmaðo/

adjectiveA2general

Use 'quemado' specifically when food has been cooked so long that it has started to burn or char.

A single slice of toast that is completely blackened and charred due to excessive heat, illustrating physical damage.

Examples

Se me olvidó el pan en el horno y ahora está quemado.

I forgot the bread in the oven and now it's burnt.

El cable estaba quemado y tuvimos que reemplazarlo.

The cable was burnt and we had to replace it.

Ten cuidado, el arroz está un poco quemado por debajo.

Be careful, the rice is a little burnt underneath.

Masculine Form

Remember that 'quemado' must match the gender and number of the noun it describes: 'quemada' (feminine singular), 'quemados' (masculine plural), 'quemadas' (feminine plural).

See full entry for “quemado” →

Mistaking 'pasado' for 'quemado'

Learners often confuse these by using 'pasado' when the food is actually burnt. Remember, 'pasado' implies overcooking without burning, while 'quemado' specifically means burnt.

Related Translations

background→burned→burnt→burnt out→done for→fed up→gullible person→last→

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