What is the difference between "mojado", "empapado" in Spanish?

The English word 'soaked' has a couple of common Spanish translations, each with a slightly different nuance. Choosing the right word depends on how wet something or someone is and the context.

How to Say "soaked" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “soaked” is “mojado” — use 'mojado' for anything that is wet, from slightly damp to very wet, but not necessarily completely saturated.

mojadoA1

Use 'mojado' for anything that is wet, from slightly damp to very wet, but not necessarily completely saturated.

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empapadoA2

Use 'empapado' specifically when something or someone is completely drenched, as if they've been thoroughly soaked through.

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English → Spanish

mojado

mo-HAH-dohmoˈxaðo

AdjectiveA1General

Use 'mojado' for anything that is wet, from slightly damp to very wet, but not necessarily completely saturated.

A bright yellow rubber duck sitting in a small puddle, covered in large, clear water droplets, indicating it is completely wet.

Examples

El suelo está mojado después de la tormenta.

The floor is wet after the storm.

Tuvimos que quitarnos la ropa mojada al llegar a casa.

We had to take off our wet clothes when we arrived home.

Mi pelo todavía está un poco mojado, no lo sequé bien.

My hair is still a bit damp, I didn't dry it well.

Gender Agreement

Like many Spanish adjectives, 'mojado' must match the thing it describes in both gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural): 'la toalla mojada' (the wet towel), 'los zapatos mojados' (the wet shoes).

Using Ser vs. Estar

Mistake: “La camisa es mojada.”

Correction: La camisa está mojada. We use 'estar' because being wet is usually a temporary state or condition.

empapado

em-pah-PAH-dohem.paˈpa.ðo

adjectiveA2General

Use 'empapado' specifically when something or someone is completely drenched, as if they've been thoroughly soaked through.

A small fluffy dog standing in a rain puddle with wet, dripping fur.

Examples

Llegué a casa empapado porque no tenía paraguas.

I arrived home soaked because I didn't have an umbrella.

El suelo está empapado después de la limpieza.

The floor is soaking wet after the cleaning.

Tuve que cambiarme los calcetines; estaban empapados.

I had to change my socks; they were drenched.

Using with 'Estar'

Since being soaked is usually a temporary state or the result of an event, we always use 'estar' (to be) rather than 'ser'.

Matching Gender

The word ends in -o for men/masculine objects and -a for women/feminine objects. For example: 'Él está empapado' but 'Ella está empapada'.

The 'Estar' Trap

Mistake: “Soy empapado por la lluvia.”

Correction: Estoy empapado por la lluvia. Use 'estar' because you aren't a soaked person by nature; it's just what's happening right now.

Distinguishing Between 'Mojado' and 'Empapado'

Learners often use 'mojado' when they mean 'empapado'. Remember that 'mojado' is a general term for 'wet', while 'empapado' implies being completely soaked through, like after being caught in heavy rain without protection.

Related Translations

damp drenched dripping wet imbued steeped in thoroughly familiar undocumented immigrant wet

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