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How to Say "uncovered" in Spanish

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descubierto

des-koo-BYER-toh/deskuˈβjeɾto/

AdjectiveA2General
Use 'descubierto' when referring to something that is not covered or has no lid, like a container or a person's head exposed to the elements.
A simple wooden storage box standing on a surface. The lid is completely removed and placed beside the box, showing the empty interior.

Examples

Dejó la cabeza descubierta bajo el sol fuerte y se quemó.

He left his head uncovered under the strong sun and got burned.

Las ruinas históricas quedaron descubiertas tras la excavación.

The historical ruins were left exposed after the excavation.

Hemos descubierto un nuevo restaurante en el centro.

We have discovered a new restaurant downtown.

El misterio fue descubierto por la policía.

The mystery was discovered by the police.

Adjective Agreement

As an adjective, 'descubierto' must change its ending (-o, -a, -os, -as) to match the person or thing it describes in both gender and number.

The Irregular Participle

'Descubierto' is an irregular past participle because it does not follow the standard '-ido' ending. You simply must memorize this form for the verb 'descubrir'.

Use with 'Haber'

When used with the helping verb 'haber' (like in 'he descubierto'), the participle never changes its ending; it always stays 'descubierto', regardless of the gender or number of the subject or object.

Changing the Ending with 'Haber'

Mistake: “Hemos descubierta la verdad.”

Correction: Hemos descubierto la verdad. (The participle only changes when used as a standard adjective or with 'ser/estar' in the passive/state.)

descubierto

Past ParticipleA1General
Use 'descubierto' as part of a compound verb tense (like the present perfect) to indicate that something has been revealed or discovered.

Examples

Hemos descubierto un nuevo restaurante en el centro.

We have discovered a new restaurant downtown.

descubrió

Verb (Simple Past Tense)A2General
Use 'descubrió' when referring to the specific action of someone uncovering or discovering something in the past.

Examples

El arqueólogo descubrió una vasija muy antigua en las ruinas.

The archaeologist discovered a very old vase in the ruins.

abiertas

/ah-byer-tas//aˈβjeɾtas/

AdjectiveA1General
Use 'abiertas' when referring to something that is open, like a store or a wound, rather than something that has had its cover removed.
A pair of rustic wooden double doors standing wide open, revealing a bright, inviting space inside.

Examples

Las tiendas están abiertas hasta las nueve.

The stores are open until nine.

Dejamos las ventanas abiertas para que entre el aire fresco.

We left the windows open so the fresh air could come in.

Las heridas de la paciente estaban abiertas y necesitaban puntos.

The patient's wounds were open and needed stitches.

Adjective Agreement

Since 'abiertas' ends in '-as', it must describe feminine things that are plural (more than one), like 'las ventanas' (the windows) or 'las tiendas' (the stores).

Ser vs. Estar

When describing a temporary state, use 'estar' (Las puertas están abiertas = The doors are currently open). When describing a permanent characteristic, use 'ser' (Las personas son abiertas = The people are open-minded).

Forgetting the Plural

Mistake: “La puerta está abierta.”

Correction: La puerta está abierta. (If you are talking about one feminine door, you must use the singular form 'abierta').

Confusing 'descubierto' with 'abierto'

Learners often confuse 'descubierto' (uncovered, revealed) with 'abierto' (open). Remember that 'descubierto' implies something was previously covered and is now exposed, while 'abierto' simply means not closed or not shut.

Related Translations

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