When you're feeling a bit low on energy, the Spanish word for that feeling is cansado (for males or mixed groups) or cansada (for females).
Think of it as the direct translation for 'tired' in English.
You can use it to describe yourself, or someone else.
For example, if you've had a long day, you might say, 'Estoy cansado.'
When talking about being tired in Spanish, we use the adjective cansado/a. Remember that adjectives in Spanish change their ending to match the gender and number of the noun they describe. So, if you are a man, you would say estoy cansado, and if you are a woman, you would say estoy cansada.
This adjective can be used in various contexts, from physical exhaustion after exercise to mental fatigue from a long day of work. It's a very common and practical word to know.
When using "cansado/a," remember that it's an adjective, so it needs to agree in gender and number with the noun it describes. For example, a male speaker would say "Estoy cansado" (I am tired), while a female speaker would say "Estoy cansada." If referring to a group of tired men or a mixed group, it would be "Estamos cansados." If referring to a group of only tired women, it would be "Estamos cansadas." This agreement is crucial for correct and natural-sounding Spanish.
cansado/a in 30 Sekunden
- Use 'cansado' for masculine subjects and 'cansada' for feminine subjects.
- Commonly paired with 'estar' (to be) to express a temporary state.
- Can also describe objects, meaning worn out or well-used.
Alright, let's talk about "cansado/a." You'll hear this word a lot, trust me. It means tired, weary, or fatigued. It's an adjective, so remember it needs to match the noun it's describing in gender and number. That's why you see both "cansado" (masculine singular) and "cansada" (feminine singular).
§ Basic Use: Feeling Tired
The most common way you'll hear "cansado/a" is simply to express that someone is tired. It's straightforward and used in everyday situations.
Estoy muy cansado después de trabajar todo el día.
- Hint
- I'm very tired after working all day.
Mi hermana está cansada de estudiar para sus exámenes.
- Hint
- My sister is tired from studying for her exams.
§ At Work
In a work setting, you'll hear people talking about feeling tired after a long day or a demanding task. It's a common complaint, just like in English.
Los empleados están cansados de las reuniones tan largas.
- Hint
- The employees are tired of the long meetings.
Estoy cansada de este proyecto, parece no tener fin.
- Hint
- I'm tired of this project, it seems to have no end.
§ At School
Students often use "cansado/a" to describe their state, especially during exam periods or after intense study sessions.
Los niños están cansados después de la clase de educación física.
- Hint
- The children are tired after physical education class.
Estoy cansado de hacer tanta tarea cada noche.
- Hint
- I'm tired of doing so much homework every night.
§ In the News
While less common than in personal conversation, "cansado/a" can appear in news reports, often in a more figurative sense to describe a population or a sentiment. It can imply a general weariness with a situation.
La gente está cansada de la situación económica actual.
- Hint
- People are tired of the current economic situation.
El ministro declaró que la nación estaba cansada de la corrupción.
- Hint
- The minister declared that the nation was tired of corruption.
§ Useful Phrases with "Cansado/a"
Here are some common ways you'll hear and use "cansado/a" in real conversations:
Estoy cansado/a de + [infinitive verb/noun]: I'm tired of doing [something]/of [something].
Estoy cansada de limpiar la casa todos los días.
- Hint
- I'm tired of cleaning the house every day.
Llegar cansado/a: To arrive tired.
Siempre llego cansado a casa después del gimnasio.
- Hint
- I always arrive home tired after the gym.
So, there you have it. "Cansado/a" is a very useful word for expressing a common feeling. Pay attention to its gender and number agreement, and you'll be using it like a native in no time. Keep practicing!
§ Don't Confuse "Ser" and "Estar" with "Cansado/a"
One of the most frequent errors Spanish learners make with "cansado/a" is using the wrong verb for "to be." In Spanish, we have two verbs for "to be": "ser" and "estar." This is a fundamental concept, and it's especially important here.
Since being tired is usually a temporary state (unless you have a chronic condition, which we'll address), you almost always use "estar" with "cansado/a."
- DEFINITION
- Correct: Estar cansado/a (to be tired - temporary state)
- DEFINITION
- Incorrect: Ser cansado/a (to be a tiring person/thing - permanent characteristic)
Let's look at examples to make this crystal clear.
Estoy muy cansado después del trabajo. (I am very tired after work.)
Here, being tired is a result of work and will likely change after rest, so "estar" is used.
Esa película fue muy cansada. (That movie was very tiring/boring.)
In this case, "cansada" describes a permanent characteristic of the movie (it was inherently boring or exhausting to watch), so "ser" would be used (though in this context, it's more common to say "la película era aburrida" - the movie was boring).
§ Gender and Number Agreement
Another common oversight is forgetting that "cansado/a" is an adjective and must agree in gender and number with the noun or pronoun it modifies.
- If the subject is masculine singular: cansado
- If the subject is feminine singular: cansada
- If the subject is masculine plural: cansados
- If the subject is feminine plural: cansadas
- If the subject is mixed gender plural: cansados (masculine plural takes precedence)
Ellas están cansadas de estudiar. (They [feminine] are tired of studying.)
Nosotros estamos cansados de esperar. (We [masculine/mixed] are tired of waiting.)
§ When to Use "De" After "Cansado/a"
When you're tired of something or tired from doing something, you often use the preposition "de" after "cansado/a."
Estoy cansado de trabajar. (I am tired of working.)
Está cansada de la situación. (She is tired of the situation.)
If you just want to say you are tired, without specifying from what, then "de" is not needed.
Estoy muy cansado. (I am very tired.)
§ Don't Literally Translate "Tired to Death"
In English, we sometimes say "I'm tired to death." A direct translation in Spanish doesn't sound natural. Instead, use expressions that convey extreme tiredness.
- DEFINITION
- Common Spanish equivalents for "tired to death":
- Estar agotado/a (to be exhausted)
- Estar muerto/a de cansancio (to be dead with tiredness)
- No poder más (to not be able to do more/to be at your limit)
Después de la caminata, estaba agotado. (After the hike, I was exhausted.)
Estábamos muertos de cansancio después de la fiesta. (We were dead with tiredness after the party.)
How Formal Is It?
"Después de un largo viaje, me siento bastante cansado."
"Estoy cansada de trabajar todo el día."
"Estoy agotado después del partido de fútbol."
"El perrito está con sueño después de jugar."
"Estoy reventado, necesito dormir un poco."
Schwierigkeitsgrad
short
short
short
short
Was du als Nächstes lernen solltest
Voraussetzungen
Als Nächstes lernen
Fortgeschritten
Beispiele nach Niveau
Después de correr la maratón, mis piernas estaban tan cansadas que apenas podía dar un paso más.
After running the marathon, my legs were so tired that I could barely take another step.
Here, 'cansadas' is used with 'estar' to describe a temporary state of fatigue in the legs.
Estaba cansada de la constante crítica de su jefe y decidió buscar un nuevo empleo.
She was weary of her boss's constant criticism and decided to look for a new job.
In this context, 'cansada de' implies being tired of something in a more figurative sense, like being fed up.
El largo viaje en tren me dejó bastante cansado, pero la vista valió la pena.
The long train journey left me quite tired, but the view was worth it.
'Cansado' here describes the physical state of being tired after a journey.
Los ojos cansados del estudiante revelaban las muchas horas de estudio para el examen final.
The student's weary eyes revealed the many hours of studying for the final exam.
'Cansados' modifies 'ojos' (eyes), indicating a state of weariness that is visually apparent.
Aunque estaba cansado, no podía dormir debido a la emoción por el concierto.
Although he was tired, he couldn't sleep due to the excitement for the concert.
This sentence uses 'cansado' to express a state of being tired despite an inability to sleep due to other factors.
La jornada laboral tan intensa nos dejó a todos cansados y deseando un buen descanso.
The intense workday left us all tired and wishing for a good rest.
'Cansados' is plural to agree with 'todos' (everyone), referring to the collective feeling of being tired.
Con la mente tan cansada después de resolver el complejo problema, solo quería relajarme.
With her mind so tired after solving the complex problem, she just wanted to relax.
Here, 'cansada' refers to mental fatigue, often expressed as 'mente cansada'.
Los corredores, visiblemente cansados, cruzaron la meta uno tras otro bajo el aplauso de la multitud.
The visibly tired runners crossed the finish line one after another to the applause of the crowd.
'Cansados' describes the runners' physical appearance and state of exhaustion after a race.
Häufige Kollokationen
Häufige Phrasen
Estoy cansado/a.
I am tired.
¿Estás cansado/a?
Are you tired?
Siempre estoy cansado/a después del trabajo.
I'm always tired after work.
Me siento muy cansado/a hoy.
I feel very tired today.
Ella está cansada de esperar.
She is tired of waiting.
Necesito descansar, estoy cansado/a.
I need to rest, I'm tired.
Los niños estaban cansados después de jugar.
The children were tired after playing.
Si estás cansado/a, vete a dormir.
If you're tired, go to sleep.
Estoy cansado/a de la rutina.
I'm tired of the routine.
No puedo más, estoy cansado/a.
I can't anymore, I'm tired.
Wird oft verwechselt mit
While both can result in a lack of activity, 'cansado/a' is physical/mental exhaustion, 'aburrido/a' is disinterest.
Weakness can be a *result* of being tired, but 'débil' describes a lack of strength, not the state of being tired.
This is a stronger form of 'cansado/a'. Think of 'cansado/a' as tired, and 'agotado/a' as completely spent.
Leicht verwechselbar
Often confused with feeling bored or lazy due to similar-sounding words or contexts where weariness might lead to inactivity.
Refers specifically to physical or mental exhaustion, not lack of interest or motivation.
Estoy cansado después de trabajar todo el día. (I am tired after working all day.)
Sometimes mistakenly used when someone means 'tired' because both can lead to a lack of energy or engagement.
Means 'bored,' indicating a lack of interest or stimulation.
Estoy aburrido con esta película. (I am bored with this movie.)
Can be confused because being tired often leads to feeling weak.
Means 'weak' (lacking strength), which is a consequence of being tired, not the same as being tired itself.
Me siento débil después de la gripe. (I feel weak after the flu.)
Very similar in meaning to 'cansado/a' and often used interchangeably, leading to confusion about nuances.
Means 'exhausted' or 'worn out,' implying a more intense or complete state of tiredness than 'cansado/a.'
Estaba agotado después de correr un maratón. (I was exhausted after running a marathon.)
Describes a state that often accompanies tiredness, making it seem like a direct synonym.
Means 'sleepy' or 'drowsy,' referring to the urge to sleep, which is a symptom of being tired, not tiredness itself.
Estoy somnoliento después de un almuerzo grande. (I am sleepy after a big lunch.)
Wortfamilie
Substantive
Verben
Adjektive
Teste dich selbst 60 Fragen
Listen for 'I am tired.'
Listen for 'Are you tired?'
Listen for 'She is tired because she worked a lot.'
Read this aloud:
No estoy cansado.
Focus: cansado
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Read this aloud:
Las chicas están cansadas.
Focus: cansadas
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Read this aloud:
Él está muy cansado hoy.
Focus: muy cansado
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What is the speaker feeling after working all day?
Why is the sister tired?
What have the children been doing?
Read this aloud:
Estoy muy cansado.
Focus: cansado
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Read this aloud:
¿Estás cansada?
Focus: cansada
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Read this aloud:
Ellos están cansados.
Focus: cansados
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This sentence means 'I am very tired today.' It follows the standard Spanish sentence structure of subject-verb-adjective-adverb.
This question asks 'Are you tired after working?' The structure is common for questions in Spanish.
This sentence translates to 'She is tired of walking so much.' 'De' is used here to connect 'cansada' with the reason for being tired.
Después de correr un maratón, me sentía muy ___.
The context of running a marathon implies feeling tired.
Ella estaba tan ___ que se durmió en el sofá.
Sleeping on the couch suggests being very tired.
Los estudiantes estaban ___ después de un largo día de exámenes.
Exams often make students tired.
Si trabajas demasiado, te sentirás ___.
Overworking leads to feeling tired.
No puedo pensar con claridad; estoy demasiado ___.
Being too tired can impair clear thinking.
Después de viajar toda la noche, llegué muy ___ a mi destino.
Traveling all night typically results in feeling tired upon arrival.
Choose the best translation for 'cansado' in this sentence: 'Después de correr un maratón, me sentía muy cansado.'
'Cansado' directly translates to tired, weary, or fatigued.
Which of these is a synonym for 'cansado/a'?
'Fatigado/a' is a close synonym for 'cansado/a', meaning tired or weary.
Fill in the blank: 'Mi abuela siempre está ____ después de trabajar en el jardín todo el día.'
Since 'abuela' is feminine and singular, the adjective 'cansado' must agree in gender and number, becoming 'cansada'.
The word 'cansado' can be used to describe both a person and a thing.
'Cansado/a' typically describes a living being experiencing fatigue, not an inanimate object.
If someone says 'Estoy cansado', it means they are feeling tired.
'Estoy cansado' is a direct expression meaning 'I am tired'.
The opposite of 'cansado/a' is 'energético/a'.
'Energético/a' (energetic) is a suitable antonym for 'cansado/a' (tired).
This sentence means 'I am very tired after running the marathon.' It follows a typical Spanish sentence structure.
This sentence translates to 'She is tired of waiting so long.' The feminine form 'cansada' matches 'ella'.
This means 'The children were tired after playing all day.' 'Cansados' is masculine plural, matching 'los niños'.
After running the marathon, he felt so tired he could barely walk.
She was tired of the long work hours and just wanted to rest.
Are you tired of hearing the same song over and over?
Read this aloud:
Estoy muy cansado después de un día tan ajetreado en el trabajo.
Focus: cansado
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Read this aloud:
Mi hermana siempre está cansada por las mañanas.
Focus: mañanas
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Read this aloud:
No importa lo cansada que esté, siempre encuentro tiempo para leer.
Focus: cansada
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Imagine you've had an incredibly busy week. Describe in Spanish how you feel, using 'cansado/a' and providing at least two reasons for your fatigue. (e.g., long hours, too much studying, late nights).
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Esta semana ha sido agotadora y me siento muy cansado. He trabajado muchas horas extra en la oficina y también he estado estudiando para un examen importante. Además, me he acostado muy tarde todos los días.
You are making plans with a friend, but you are too tired to go out. Write a short text message in Spanish explaining why you can't join, using 'cansado/a' and suggesting an alternative activity for another day. (e.g., Netflix, coffee, chill).
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Hola, lo siento mucho pero no puedo salir esta noche. Estoy muy cansado/a después de un día largo. ¿Qué te parece si quedamos para tomar un café mañana o vemos una película en casa el fin de semana?
Describe a situation where you felt 'cansado/a' but still had to continue doing something important. Explain in Spanish what you did and how you managed to push through.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Ayer me sentí muy cansado/a después de un largo viaje, pero tenía una presentación importante al día siguiente. A pesar del cansancio, me obligué a repasar mis notas y prepararme. Tomé un café fuerte y me concentré en mi objetivo, logrando terminar todo a tiempo.
¿Qué es lo que más deseaba María al llegar a casa?
Read this passage:
María llegó a casa después de un día muy largo en el hospital. Había tenido un turno de doce horas y se sentía completamente cansada. Lo único que quería era cenar algo ligero y acostarse. Su perro, sin embargo, la recibió con mucha energía, queriendo jugar y salir a pasear.
¿Qué es lo que más deseaba María al llegar a casa?
El texto indica que 'Lo único que quería era cenar algo ligero y acostarse', lo que muestra su deseo principal debido al cansancio.
El texto indica que 'Lo único que quería era cenar algo ligero y acostarse', lo que muestra su deseo principal debido al cansancio.
¿Cómo se sentía Carlos la noche anterior a la maratón?
Read this passage:
Carlos había estado entrenando para una maratón durante meses. La noche anterior a la carrera, se sentía increíblemente cansado, no solo físicamente, sino también mentalmente por la presión. A pesar de esto, sabía que todo el esfuerzo valdría la pena si lograba cruzar la meta.
¿Cómo se sentía Carlos la noche anterior a la maratón?
El pasaje menciona que Carlos se sentía 'increíblemente cansado, no solo físicamente, sino también mentalmente por la presión'.
El pasaje menciona que Carlos se sentía 'increíblemente cansado, no solo físicamente, sino también mentalmente por la presión'.
¿Qué hizo Ana cuando empezó a sentirse cansada?
Read this passage:
Después de varias horas de estudiar para su examen final, Ana comenzó a sentirse muy cansada. Sus ojos le pesaban y le costaba concentrarse en los apuntes. Decidió tomar un pequeño descanso, caminar un poco y beber un vaso de agua antes de intentar seguir estudiando.
¿Qué hizo Ana cuando empezó a sentirse cansada?
El texto dice que Ana 'decidió tomar un pequeño descanso, caminar un poco y beber un vaso de agua', lo que indica que se tomó un momento para despejarse.
El texto dice que Ana 'decidió tomar un pequeño descanso, caminar un poco y beber un vaso de agua', lo que indica que se tomó un momento para despejarse.
Focus on the nuance of 'no se sentía cansado en absoluto' and the implication.
Pay attention to 'cansancio acumulado' and 'pasó factura'.
Note the contrast between 'visiblemente cansada' and 'mantuvo su compostura'.
Read this aloud:
¿Crees que el cansancio crónico afecta la capacidad de tomar decisiones importantes en el trabajo?
Focus: Crónico, decisiones
Du hast gesagt:
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Read this aloud:
Describe una situación en la que te sentiste tan cansado que te costó concentrarte en algo.
Focus: Situación, concentrarte
Du hast gesagt:
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Read this aloud:
A menudo, el cansancio mental es más difícil de superar que el cansancio físico. ¿Estás de acuerdo?
Focus: A menudo, superar
Du hast gesagt:
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This sentence structure emphasizes how the long journey ('El largo viaje') was the cause ('lo había dejado') of his profound tiredness ('profundamente cansado').
This arrangement shows a contrast: despite being visibly tired ('Aunque visiblemente cansada'), she persevered ('ella continuó con sus deberes').
This sentence highlights how constant work pressure ('La constante presión del trabajo') resulted in her being perpetually tired ('la mantenía perpetuamente cansada').
/ 60 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
Understand the gender agreement for 'cansado/a' and its common use with 'estar' to express being tired.
- Use 'cansado' for masculine subjects and 'cansada' for feminine subjects.
- Commonly paired with 'estar' (to be) to express a temporary state.
- Can also describe objects, meaning worn out or well-used.
Verwandte Inhalte
Ähnliche Regeln
Verwandte Redewendungen
Mehr emotions Wörter
a diferencia de
B1Unlike; in contrast to.
abatido
B1Feeling or showing great sadness or discouragement; dejected.
abatimiento
B2State of being low in spirits; dejection or depression.
abatir
B1To make someone feel dejected or disheartened.
abierto/a de mente
B2Open-minded; willing to consider new ideas; unprejudiced.
aborrecer
B1To regard with disgust and hatred; to loathe.
abrazar
A1To put one's arms around someone as a sign of affection.
abrazo
A1An act of holding someone closely in one's arms; a hug.
abrumador
B1Overpowering; very great or intense.
abrumar
B1To overwhelm (someone) with a large amount of something.
