Inklingo

How to Say "wasted" in Spanish

English → Spanish

borracho

boh-RRAH-cho (The 'rr' is rolled, and 'ch' sounds like the 'ch' in 'church')/boˈra.tʃo/

adjectiveA2informal slang
Use this informal term when someone is drunk or intoxicated.
A cartoon illustration of a dizzy man stumbling and swaying heavily while walking on a road.

Examples

Después de tres cervezas, él estaba completamente borracho.

After three beers, he was completely drunk.

La viuda se puso borracha en la boda de su hija.

The widow got drunk at her daughter's wedding. (Note: using the feminine form 'borracha')

Los chicos borrachos hicieron mucho ruido en la calle.

The drunk boys made a lot of noise in the street. (Note: using the plural form 'borrachos')

Gender and Number Agreement

Since 'borracho' is an adjective, it must change its ending to match the person or thing it describes. If you describe a woman, use 'borracha'; if you describe a group, use 'borrachos' (masculine/mixed) or 'borrachas' (feminine).

ciegos

/SYEH-gohs//ˈsje.ɣos/

adjectiveC1informal slang
Use this word to describe someone who is extremely drunk or even high, implying a severe state of intoxication.
A person looking very dizzy with spinning stars around their head.

Examples

Anoche volvieron a casa totalmente ciegos.

Last night they came home totally wasted.

perdido

/pehr-DEE-doh//peɾˈdi.ðo/

adjectiveB1
This applies when referring to time or effort that has been spent ineffectively or without achieving results.
A close-up of a pair of hands letting fine, golden sand pour uselessly onto the ground, symbolizing wasted time or effort.

Examples

Discutir sobre eso es tiempo perdido.

Arguing about that is wasted time.

Fue una oportunidad perdida para aprender algo nuevo.

It was a missed opportunity to learn something new.

perdió

verbA2
This is the past tense of 'perder' and is used when money or resources have been lost, often unintentionally.

Examples

Mi hermana perdió su anillo en la playa.

My sister lost her ring on the beach.

quemó

verbB2
Use this verb to indicate that time or an opportunity has been squandered or spent carelessly.

Examples

Quemó todo su sueldo en un solo día.

He blew his entire salary in a single day.

Intoxication vs. Squandered Resources

Learners often confuse the terms for intoxication ('borracho', 'ciegos') with those for lost time or money ('perdido', 'perdió', 'quemó'). Remember that 'borracho' and 'ciegos' specifically refer to being drunk, while the others relate to things being 'lost' or 'spent' ineffectively.

Related Translations

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