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A2 adjective 9 min read

quemado

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips quemado in 30 Seconds

Explanation quemado in your Level:

At the A1 level, you should focus on the most literal and common uses of 'quemado'. This word is primarily used to describe food that has been cooked too long and has turned black or tastes bad. For example, if you forget your bread in the toaster, it becomes 'pan quemado'. You will also use it to describe a sunburn, which is very common in Spanish-speaking countries with sunny climates. If you spend too much time at the beach without cream, you might say 'estoy quemado'. It is important to remember that 'quemado' changes to 'quemada' if the thing you are talking about is feminine, like 'la pizza quemada'. At this stage, just think of it as the opposite of 'delicioso' for food or the result of 'mucho sol' for your skin. You don't need to worry about complex metaphorical meanings yet. Just focus on identifying the physical state of being burnt.

By the A2 level, you can start to expand your use of 'quemado' to include more everyday objects and simple figurative expressions. You should be able to use it to describe broken household items, like a 'foco quemado' (a burnt-out lightbulb) or a 'motor quemado' in a car. You will also begin to encounter the expression 'estar quemado' to describe being very tired of something, especially school or a simple job. At this level, you should be comfortable with the gender and number agreement: 'los papeles quemados', 'las casas quemadas'. You might also learn about the game 'los quemados' (dodgeball), which is a great way to remember the word through a fun context. You should distinguish between 'quemado' (burnt) and 'caliente' (hot), ensuring you use the right word when describing your coffee or your dinner. This level is about moving from just food to the world around you.

At the B1 level, the metaphorical and idiomatic uses of 'quemado' become more important. You will use 'quemado' to discuss the concept of 'burnout' in a professional context. Instead of just saying you are 'cansado' (tired), you can say 'estoy quemado del trabajo' to express a deeper level of exhaustion and frustration. You will also start to use synonyms like 'tostado' (toasted) or 'chamuscado' (singed) to provide more detail. You should be able to understand 'quemado' in news reports about forest fires or environmental issues. At this level, you can also use 'quemado' to describe someone's reputation—if someone is 'quemado' in a social group, they are no longer trusted. You will also use it in more complex grammatical structures, such as 'si no tienes cuidado, te quedarás quemado', using the verb 'quedarse' to show the result of an action.

At the B2 level, you should have a nuanced understanding of 'quemado' in various registers. You can use it to describe subtle culinary techniques, like 'azúcar quemada' on a dessert, or technical failures in electronics. You will understand the social implications of being 'quemado' in different Spanish-speaking cultures, such as the Mexican slang for being publicly shamed. Your vocabulary should now include more intense versions of the word, like 'calcinado' (charred to ashes) or 'abrasado' (scorched). You can use 'quemado' in debates about work-life balance and the 'síndrome del trabajador quemado' (burnout syndrome). You should also be able to use the word in the passive voice correctly: 'el edificio fue quemado intencionalmente'. At this stage, you are not just describing things as burnt; you are using the word to describe complex social, emotional, and technical states with precision.

At the C1 level, you will encounter 'quemado' in literature, formal journalism, and specialized technical fields. You should be able to appreciate how authors use 'quemado' as a metaphor for passion, destruction, or the passage of time. You will understand the legal and forensic nuances of the word when discussing 'objetos quemados' in a crime scene context. You should be able to use the word in sophisticated idiomatic expressions and understand regional variations across the Spanish-speaking world. For example, you might analyze how 'quemado' is used in a political commentary to describe a candidate whose career is over. You will also be able to distinguish between the various past participles that can act as adjectives, choosing 'quemado' over 'ardido' or 'encendido' based on subtle differences in meaning and tone. Your use of the word will be fluid, natural, and contextually perfect.

At the C2 level, you have a masterly command of 'quemado' and all its derivatives. You can use it in highly abstract ways, perhaps in philosophical discussions about 'la tierra quemada' (scorched earth) policies in history or as a metaphor for a life spent in pursuit of a singular goal. You will be familiar with archaic or rare uses of the word in classical Spanish literature. You can effortlessly switch between the literal, the figurative, and the highly slangy uses of the word depending on your audience. You will understand the etymological roots of the word and how it relates to other Romance languages. At this level, 'quemado' is just one tool in a vast arsenal of vocabulary, and you use it with the precision of a native speaker, often using it to add color, irony, or depth to your speech and writing. You could even write a poem or a technical manual using the word and its family members with absolute accuracy.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

quemado in 30 Seconds

Damaged by fire or heat.
Sunburned skin.
Psychologically exhausted or 'burnt out'.
Broken electronics or overused social reputation.

The Spanish word quemado is a versatile adjective and the past participle of the verb quemar (to burn). At its most fundamental level, it describes something that has been damaged, altered, or destroyed by fire, extreme heat, or even chemicals. For English speakers, the most direct translation is usually 'burnt' or 'burned.' However, its usage extends far beyond the kitchen or a campfire. In everyday Spanish, you will encounter this word in contexts ranging from culinary mishaps to dermatological concerns and even psychological states. Understanding the nuances of quemado requires looking at how it adapts to the gender and number of the noun it describes: quemado (masculine singular), quemada (feminine singular), quemados (masculine plural), and quemadas (feminine plural).

Literal Use: Refers to physical objects that have undergone combustion or heat damage, such as a piece of toast or a forest after a fire.

Biological Use: Describes skin that has been overexposed to the sun (sunburned) or injured by heat (burned skin).

Figurative Use: Commonly used to describe 'burnout'—a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress, particularly in a work environment.

No puedo comer este pan porque está totalmente quemado y sabe amargo.

In Latin American countries, particularly Mexico, quemado can also refer to someone whose reputation has been ruined or someone who has been 'exposed' in a social situation. If you are 'quemado' in a social circle, it means people know about your mistakes or bad behavior, and you are no longer trusted or welcome. Additionally, in the context of children's games, los quemados is the common name for dodgeball, where being hit by the ball means you are 'burned' and out of the game.

Después de trabajar quince horas diarias durante meses, se siente completamente quemado.

Another interesting use is in electronics. If a circuit or an appliance stops working due to a power surge, Spanish speakers say it is quemado. This mirrors the English 'fried' or 'burnt out.' In summary, whether you are talking about a failed dinner, a painful day at the beach, a stressful job, or a broken microwave, quemado is your go-to word. It captures the essence of transformation through heat or intensity, whether that transformation is physical, biological, or psychological. Use it with the verb estar to describe a state (e.g., 'el arroz está quemado') or as a direct adjective modifying a noun (e.g., 'el bosque quemado').

Using quemado correctly requires attention to two main things: gender/number agreement and the choice of the verb 'to be' (ser vs. estar). Because it functions as an adjective, it must match the noun it modifies. If you are talking about a feminine noun like la tostada (the toast), you must use quemada. For plural masculine nouns like los papeles (the papers), use quemados.

With 'Estar': Used to describe the current state of something. This is the most common construction. 'La cena está quemada' (The dinner is burnt).

With 'Ser': Less common, used to define the nature of something or in passive voice constructions. 'El terreno fue quemado por los agricultores' (The land was burned by the farmers).

Mis hombros están muy quemados por el sol de ayer.

When using the word to describe psychological burnout, the phrase is almost always estar quemado. This implies that the person wasn't always this way; it is a state they have reached due to circumstances. For example, 'Estoy quemado de mi jefe' means 'I am fed up/burnt out because of my boss.' Note how the preposition de or con often follows to indicate the source of the frustration.

Esa bombilla está quemada; necesitamos comprar una nueva.

Los restos quemados del edificio fueron removidos esta mañana.

In technical or professional contexts, you might see quemado used to describe data. A 'disco quemado' is a burned CD or DVD (though this technology is becoming obsolete). In environmental science, 'suelo quemado' refers to soil that has lost its nutrients due to intense heat or slash-and-burn agriculture. Always remember that the placement of the adjective can slightly change the focus. 'El bosque quemado' (The burnt forest) focuses on the forest's current condition, while 'El quemado bosque' would be a more poetic, literary way of emphasizing the tragedy of the fire. For A2 learners, sticking to the standard [Noun] + [Estar] + quemado structure is the most effective way to communicate clearly.

You will hear quemado in a variety of real-world settings, making it an essential part of your A2 vocabulary. One of the most common places is the kitchen. Whether at home or in a restaurant, mistakes happen. A chef might shout that the garlic is quemado, or you might apologize to a guest because the roast is a bit quemado.

At the Beach: Spanish-speaking cultures value sun safety, and you'll often hear parents telling children 'te vas a quedar quemado' (you're going to end up burnt) if they don't apply sunscreen.

In the Office: Colleagues often use 'estar quemado' to express burnout. It’s a socially acceptable way to say 'I've had enough' or 'I'm exhausted by this job.'

Huele a algo quemado en la cocina, ¿revisaste el horno?

If you are in a mechanic's shop, the technician might tell you that a fuse (fusible) or a motor part is quemado. This indicates a failure due to overheating or an electrical short. In news reports, you'll hear it during the summer months when forest fires are prevalent. Reporters will describe 'hectáreas quemadas' (burnt hectares) to quantify the damage.

¡Cuidado! El plato está muy quemado por los bordes.

Ese político está muy quemado por los escándalos recientes.

In a hospital or clinic, a doctor might classify a injury as a 'piel quemada' (burnt skin) followed by the degree of the burn (first, second, or third). In daily conversation, people use it to describe lightbulbs that have 'burnt out' (foco quemado or bombilla quemada). You might even hear it in a sports context, specifically dodgeball, where players yell '¡Estás quemado!' to indicate someone is out. The word is pervasive because heat and intensity—both physical and metaphorical—are universal experiences. Listening for the context (food, health, work, or social standing) will help you instantly determine which meaning of quemado is being used.

One of the most frequent mistakes English speakers make with quemado is forgetting the gender and number agreement. Since 'burnt' in English doesn't change, it's easy to say 'las tostadas están quemado,' but it must be 'las tostadas están quemadas.' Another common error is confusing quemado with caliente (hot) or picante (spicy hot). If a soup is very hot in temperature, it is caliente. If it has a lot of chili, it is picante. You only use quemado if the soup has actually been scorched on the bottom of the pot and tastes of smoke.

Quemado vs. Asado: Learners often confuse 'quemado' (burnt/ruined) with 'asado' (grilled/roasted). If you want to say the meat is grilled, say 'asada.' If you say it's 'quemada,' the waiter will think you are complaining that it's overcooked and ruined.

Estar vs. Ser: Using 'ser quemado' instead of 'estar quemado' for burnout. 'Soy quemado' sounds like 'I am a burnt person' by nature, which is nonsensical. Always use 'estoy quemado' for feelings of exhaustion.

Incorrect: Las galletas están quemado. Correct: Las galletas están quemadas.

Incorrect: Este chile está muy quemado (meaning spicy). Correct: Este chile está muy picante.

Incorrect: El café está quemado (when you just mean it's too hot to drink). Correct: El café está muy caliente.

Another nuance is the difference between quemado and tostado. Tostado means toasted or tanned and is generally positive or neutral. Quemado implies excess and damage. If you tell someone their tan looks quemado, you are telling them they look like they have a painful sunburn, not a healthy glow. Lastly, avoid using quemado for 'angry.' While English uses 'burned' or 'fired up' sometimes for anger, Spanish uses enojado or enfadado. Quemado is specifically for exhaustion or being 'fed up,' which is a more passive, weary state than active anger.

While quemado is the most common term for 'burnt,' Spanish offers a variety of synonyms and related words that provide more precision depending on the severity and context of the burning. Understanding these will help you sound more like a native speaker.

Tostado: Meaning 'toasted' or 'tanned.' This is the 'goldilocks' version of quemado. It's just enough heat to be pleasant. Use this for bread that is perfectly brown or a nice summer tan.

Chamuscado: Meaning 'singed' or 'scorched.' This describes something that has been lightly burnt on the surface or edges, often by a quick flame. For example, if you get too close to a candle and singe your hair, it is 'chamuscado.'

Calcinado: Meaning 'charred' or 'reduced to ashes.' This is much stronger than quemado. It implies total destruction by fire, where the object has lost its original form and turned to carbon.

El pan no está quemado, solo está un poco tostado.

El coche quedó calcinado tras la explosión.

For the psychological aspect of being 'burnt out,' you might use agotado (exhausted) or harto (fed up). While quemado specifically implies the exhaustion comes from long-term stress, agotado is more general physical tiredness, and harto is more about being annoyed or having lost patience.

Me chamusqué las pestañas al encender la estufa.

In culinary contexts, especially in Spain, you might hear socarrat. This specifically refers to the delicious, slightly burnt, crunchy layer of rice at the bottom of a paella. While technically 'quemado,' in this context, it is a delicacy and highly sought after. Using the word quemado for socarrat might sound like a criticism, so 'tostadito' or the specific term 'socarrat' is better. Lastly, abrasado is another strong synonym, often used for being 'scorched' by the sun or a very intense heat source, emphasizing the pain or intensity of the heat.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The Latin root 'cremare' is also the source of the English word 'cremate'. So 'quemado' and 'cremated' are distant cousins!

Pronunciation Guide

UK keˈmaðo

US keˈmɑðo

The stress is on the second syllable: ke-MA-do.

Rhymes With

amado estado lado pasado peinado salado sentado tomado

Common Errors

Pronouncing the 'd' too hard (like in 'dog'). In Spanish, 'd' between vowels is soft.
Pronouncing the 'u' (there is no 'u' in quemado, but learners confuse it with 'queso').

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Easy to recognize in texts about food or fire.

Writing 3/5

Must remember gender and number agreement.

Speaking 3/5

Requires soft 'd' pronunciation and correct 'estar' usage.

Listening 2/5

Common in daily speech and easy to distinguish.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

fuego caliente trabajar sol piel

Learn Next

quemadura incendio tostado agotado harto

Advanced

calcinado abrasado achicharrado socarrat

Grammar to Know

Gender and Number Agreement

La casa quemada (fem/sing), Los bosques quemados (masc/plur).

Estar vs. Ser with Past Participles

La cena está quemada (state). El papel fue quemado (action).

Adjective Placement

El pan quemado (standard). El quemado pan (poetic/literary).

The Accidental 'Se'

Se me quemó la comida (I accidentally burnt the food).

Verbs of Perception with 'a'

Huele a quemado. Sabe a quemado.

Examples by Level

El pan está quemado.

The bread is burnt.

'Está' is used because being burnt is a state.

Mi pizza está un poco quemada.

My pizza is a little burnt.

'Quemada' is feminine to match 'pizza'.

¿Huele a quemado?

Does it smell like something's burning?

'Quemado' acts as a noun here, meaning 'something burnt'.

Tengo los brazos quemados por el sol.

My arms are sunburned.

Plural masculine agreement with 'brazos'.

No comas eso, está quemado.

Don't eat that, it's burnt.

Imperative 'no comas' followed by the state.

La carne no está rica, está quemada.

The meat isn't tasty, it's burnt.

Contrast between 'rica' and 'quemada'.

El bosque está quemado.

The forest is burnt.

Masculine singular agreement with 'bosque'.

Tus tostadas están quemadas.

Your toasts are burnt.

Plural feminine agreement with 'tostadas'.

El foco de la cocina está quemado.

The kitchen lightbulb is burnt out.

'Quemado' describes a non-functional electrical item.

Jugamos a los quemados en la escuela.

We play dodgeball at school.

'Los quemados' is the name of the game.

Ese motor está quemado y no funciona.

That motor is burnt out and doesn't work.

Refers to mechanical failure due to heat.

¿Por qué están quemadas estas hojas?

Why are these leaves burnt?

Interrogative sentence with plural feminine agreement.

Estoy quemado de estudiar tanto.

I am burnt out from studying so much.

Figurative use meaning 'exhausted'.

La computadora se siente caliente y huele a quemado.

The computer feels hot and smells like something's burning.

'Huele a quemado' is a common idiomatic phrase.

Hay un olor a papel quemado.

There is a smell of burnt paper.

'Quemado' modifies the noun 'papel'.

Ella tiene la cara muy quemada por la nieve.

Her face is very burnt by the snow (windburn/sunburn).

'Quemada' describes the effect of sun/wind on skin.

Después de diez años en la misma empresa, Luis está quemado.

After ten years in the same company, Luis is burnt out.

Standard use for professional burnout.

El arroz se pegó y ahora sabe a quemado.

The rice stuck (to the pan) and now tastes burnt.

'Saber a quemado' means to have a burnt taste.

Vimos varios coches quemados después de la protesta.

We saw several burnt cars after the protest.

Plural masculine agreement with 'coches'.

No quiero salir, estoy totalmente quemado.

I don't want to go out, I'm totally burnt out.

Use of 'totalmente' for emphasis.

La tarta tiene una capa de azúcar quemada por encima.

The cake has a layer of burnt sugar on top.

Describes a culinary technique.

Se le quemó el arroz por estar hablando por teléfono.

The rice got burnt because he/she was talking on the phone.

Use of the accidental 'se' construction.

Esa bombilla está quemada, cámbiala por favor.

That lightbulb is burnt out, change it please.

Imperative 'cámbiala'.

Los cables quemados causaron el incendio.

The burnt cables caused the fire.

'Quemados' acts as an attributive adjective.

El síndrome del trabajador quemado es un problema serio.

Burnout syndrome is a serious problem.

Formal term for professional burnout.

El edificio quedó completamente quemado tras el accidente.

The building was left completely burnt after the accident.

'Quedar' expresses the resulting state.

Si sigues mintiendo, vas a terminar quemado con tus amigos.

If you keep lying, you're going to end up 'burnt' (discredited) with your friends.

Figurative use for social reputation.

Hay un fusible quemado en la caja de electricidad.

There is a blown/burnt fuse in the fuse box.

Technical use in electronics.

La zona quemada del bosque tardará años en recuperarse.

The burnt area of the forest will take years to recover.

'Quemada' modifies the noun 'zona'.

Me siento quemado de la rutina diaria.

I feel burnt out from the daily routine.

Refers to emotional exhaustion from monotony.

Ese chiste ya está muy quemado, busca otro.

That joke is already very 'burnt' (overused), find another one.

Slang for something that is overused or no longer funny.

El panadero sacó las barras quemadas del horno.

The baker took the burnt loaves out of the oven.

Plural feminine agreement with 'barras'.

El paisaje calcinado ofrecía una visión desoladora.

The charred landscape offered a devastating vision.

Use of 'calcinado' as a more intense synonym for 'quemado'.

Su reputación quedó quemada tras el escándalo financiero.

His reputation was ruined after the financial scandal.

Abstract use regarding social standing.

La piel quemada requiere cuidados específicos para evitar infecciones.

Burnt skin requires specific care to avoid infections.

Formal medical context.

El aroma a madera quemada inundaba la habitación.

The aroma of burnt wood flooded the room.

'Quemada' modifies 'madera'.

Se nota que el sensor está quemado por la sobreexposición.

You can tell the sensor is burnt out due to overexposure.

Technical use in photography/electronics.

El proyecto nació quemado debido a la falta de presupuesto.

The project was 'burnt' (doomed) from the start due to lack of budget.

Idiomatic use for something that has no chance of success.

Los restos quemados fueron analizados por los peritos.

The burnt remains were analyzed by the experts.

Formal/Legal context.

Es un autor quemado que ya no tiene nada nuevo que decir.

He is an overused/washed-up author who no longer has anything new to say.

Figurative use for a person's creative output.

La política de tierra quemada dejó al país en la miseria.

The scorched-earth policy left the country in misery.

Historical/Political term 'tierra quemada'.

Se hallaba en un estado de postración, absolutamente quemado por la vida.

He was in a state of prostration, absolutely burnt out by life.

Literary/Philosophical use.

El sutil sabor a azúcar quemada equilibraba la acidez del postre.

The subtle taste of burnt sugar balanced the acidity of the dessert.

Sophisticated culinary description.

Las naves, quemadas por orden del capitán, ardían en la orilla.

The ships, burnt by the captain's order, were burning on the shore.

Passive construction in a historical narrative.

Tras el incendio, solo quedaba el esqueleto quemado de la catedral.

After the fire, only the burnt skeleton of the cathedral remained.

Metaphorical use of 'esqueleto'.

Su discurso, ya quemado por la repetición, no convenció a nadie.

His speech, already worn out by repetition, convinced no one.

Refers to the loss of impact due to overuse.

La retina quedó quemada por mirar directamente al eclipse.

The retina was burnt by looking directly at the eclipse.

Precise medical/biological use.

El invierno quemó las cosechas con sus heladas tardías.

The winter 'burnt' (destroyed) the crops with its late frosts.

Use of 'quemar' for damage caused by cold (metaphorical heat).

Common Collocations

pan quemado

estar quemado

piel quemada

olor a quemado

foco quemado

bosque quemado

arroz quemado

sentirse quemado

fusible quemado

suelo quemado

Common Phrases

Huele a quemado.

— Something is burning. Used when you detect smoke.

¡Huele a quemado! ¿Dejaste algo en la estufa?

Estar quemado del trabajo.

— To have professional burnout.

Juan está quemado del trabajo y quiere renunciar.

Quedarse quemado.

— To end up burnt (literally or figuratively).

Si vas a la playa sin crema, te vas a quedar quemado.

Saber a quemado.

— To have a burnt taste.

Esta sopa sabe a quemado, no la puedo comer.

Jugar a los quemados.

— To play dodgeball.

A los niños les encanta jugar a los quemados en el recreo.

Estar quemado con alguien.

— To be fed up with someone.

Estoy quemado con mi hermano porque siempre me pide dinero.

Un chiste quemado.

— An old, overused joke.

Ese chiste de los tres deseos ya está muy quemado.

Tener el motor quemado.

— To have a ruined engine.

El coche no arranca porque tiene el motor quemado.

Ponerse quemado.

— To get sunburned.

Me puse muy quemado ayer en la piscina.

Capa quemada.

— A burnt layer (often in cooking).

Quita la capa quemada del pastel con un cuchillo.

Often Confused With

quemado vs caliente

'Caliente' means high temperature; 'quemado' means damaged by heat.

quemado vs picante

'Picante' means spicy/chili hot; 'quemado' is never used for spice.

quemado vs asado

'Asado' is grilled/roasted (good); 'quemado' is burnt (bad).

Idioms & Expressions

"Estar quemado"

— To be exhausted or fed up with a situation.

Estoy quemado de esta ciudad, quiero mudarme al campo.

informal

"Quemado por el sol"

— Sunburned.

Llegó de las vacaciones totalmente quemado por el sol.

neutral

"Jugar con fuego y salir quemado"

— To take risks and suffer the consequences.

Sabía que era peligroso; jugó con fuego y salió quemado.

neutral

"Estar más quemado que el palo de un churrero"

— To be extremely burnt out or very unlucky.

Pobre Pedro, está más quemado que el palo de un churrero.

informal/Spain

"Quemado socialmente"

— To have a ruined reputation.

Después del escándalo, quedó quemado socialmente.

informal

"Oler a quemado"

— To suspect something is wrong or suspicious.

Esta oferta parece demasiado buena, me huele a quemado.

informal

"Nacer quemado"

— To be doomed to failure from the beginning.

Ese plan nació quemado por falta de apoyo.

neutral

"Estar quemado de la cabeza"

— To be crazy or acting irrationally.

Ese tipo está quemado de la cabeza, no le hagas caso.

slang

"Quedar quemado"

— To be publicly exposed or embarrassed.

Quedó quemado frente a todos cuando se supo la verdad.

informal

"Tener los fusibles quemados"

— To be unable to think clearly due to exhaustion.

No puedo más, tengo los fusibles quemados.

informal

Easily Confused

quemado vs ardido

Both relate to burning.

'Ardido' usually means stinging or feeling resentful, while 'quemado' is the physical or mental state of being burnt.

Tengo los ojos ardidos por el humo.

quemado vs encendido

Relates to fire/light.

'Encendido' means turned on or lit (like a candle), while 'quemado' is the damage after.

La luz está encendida.

quemado vs tostado

Both describe heat effect on food/skin.

'Tostado' is light and usually good; 'quemado' is excessive and bad.

El pan está bien tostado.

quemado vs calcinado

Both mean burnt.

'Calcinado' is much more intense, meaning reduced to ash.

El edificio quedó calcinado.

quemado vs agotado

Both mean tired.

'Agotado' is general exhaustion; 'quemado' is specifically from prolonged stress or burnout.

Estoy agotado del viaje.

Sentence Patterns

El/La [noun] está quemado/a.

La tostada está quemada.

Huele a quemado.

¡Huele a quemado en la casa!

Tengo el/la [body part] quemado/a.

Tengo el brazo quemado.

Estar quemado de [activity].

Estoy quemado de estudiar.

Se me quemó el/la [noun].

Se me quemó la torta en el horno.

[Noun] quemado/a por el sol.

Niños quemados por el sol.

Quedar quemado después de [event].

El coche quedó quemado después del choque.

Un/una [abstract noun] quemado/a.

Una reputación quemada por el escándalo.

Word Family

Nouns

quemadura (burn)

quema (burning/fire)

quemador (burner)

Verbs

quemar (to burn)

quemarse (to get burned/to burn oneself)

Adjectives

quemado (burnt)

quemante (burning/stinging)

quemable (burnable)

incendio (fire)

fuego (fire)

ceniza (ash)

humo (smoke)

calor (heat)

How to Use It

frequency

High (Essential vocabulary)

Common Mistakes

Las tostadas están quemado. → Las tostadas están quemadas.
The adjective must agree in gender (feminine) and number (plural) with 'tostadas'.
La sopa está muy quemada (meaning spicy). → La sopa está muy picante.
'Quemado' refers to heat damage, 'picante' refers to spice/chili.
Soy quemado del trabajo. → Estoy quemado del trabajo.
Use 'estar' for states and feelings like burnout, not 'ser'.
El café está quemado (meaning it's too hot to drink). → El café está muy caliente.
'Quemado' means it tastes like it was burnt during roasting; 'caliente' refers to the temperature.
Me quemé por el sol (meaning I got a tan). → Me bronceé / Estoy tostado.
'Quemado' implies a painful red sunburn; 'bronceado' or 'tostado' is a tan.

Tips

Agreement is Key

Always remember to change the ending to -a, -os, or -as to match the noun. This is the most common mistake for English speakers.

Cooking Nuance

Differentiate between 'tostado' (good) and 'quemado' (bad) when talking about food to avoid confusion in restaurants.

Regional Slang

In Mexico, 'quemar a alguien' is like 'calling someone out' or exposing them. Being 'quemado' means your reputation is toast.

Sun Safety

Use 'quemado' to describe a sunburn. It's a very common health-related word in Spanish-speaking countries.

Burnout Syndrome

The term 'burnout' is translated directly as 'síndrome del trabajador quemado'. It's very common in modern office environments.

Electrical Damage

Use 'quemado' for fuses, motors, or lightbulbs that have failed. It's the equivalent of 'fried' or 'blown'.

Smelling Trouble

'Huele a quemado' can be literal (smoke) or metaphorical (something suspicious is happening).

Dodgeball

If you're playing sports with Spanish speakers, 'quemado' is the word for being 'out' in dodgeball.

Upgrade your Vocab

Once you master 'quemado', try using 'chamuscado' for something lightly singed to sound more advanced.

The Soft D

Practice the 'd' in 'quemado'. It shouldn't sound like a hard 'd' in 'door', but a soft 'th' in 'breathe'.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of a 'Kebab' that was 'Made' too long and got 'O'vercooked. Ke-Mad-O.

Visual Association

Imagine a piece of black toast (pan quemado) sitting next to a very red, sunburned person (persona quemada).

Word Web

fuego sol trabajo cocina piel electrónica reputación exhausto

Challenge

Try to use 'quemado' in three different sentences today: one about food, one about the weather/sun, and one about how you feel after a long day.

Word Origin

From the Spanish verb 'quemar', which comes from the Latin 'cremare' (to burn, consume by fire).

Original meaning: To consume with fire or to reduce to ashes.

Romance (Indo-European).

Cultural Context

Be careful when using 'quemado' to describe people in some regions, as it can imply they are 'finished' or 'discredited' socially.

In English, we say 'burnt out' for work, but 'sunburned' for skin. Spanish uses 'quemado' for both, which simplifies things for learners.

'El síndrome del quemado' is a frequent topic in Spanish HR magazines. 'Quemados' (Dodgeball) is often seen in Latin American coming-of-age films.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

In the kitchen

¡Se quemó el arroz!
Huele a pan quemado.
La sartén está quemada.
No me gusta la carne quemada.

At the beach

Ponte crema o te vas a quedar quemado.
Tengo la espalda muy quemada.
¿Estás quemado por el sol?
Usa un sombrero para no quemarte.

At work

Estoy quemado de este proyecto.
El equipo se siente quemado.
Necesito vacaciones, estoy quemado.
El síndrome del trabajador quemado.

Electronics

El foco se ha quemado.
Creo que el motor está quemado.
Huele a plástico quemado en la tele.
El cargador está quemado.

Social situations

Ese chiste ya está quemado.
Quedó quemado por sus mentiras.
No vayas ahí, ese lugar está quemado.
¡Estás quemado! (in games)

Conversation Starters

"¿Alguna vez te has sentido quemado por el trabajo o los estudios?"

"¿Te gusta el pan un poco quemado o prefieres que esté blanco?"

"¿Qué haces cuando te quedas quemado por el sol en las vacaciones?"

"¿Cuál es la comida que más se te quema cuando cocinas?"

"¿Has jugado alguna vez a los quemados en la escuela?"

Journal Prompts

Describe una vez que se te quemó la comida. ¿Qué pasó?

Escribe sobre un momento en el que te sentiste 'quemado' emocionalmente.

¿Prefieres el verano y el riesgo de estar quemado o el invierno frío?

¿Qué opinas sobre el síndrome del trabajador quemado en la sociedad actual?

Describe un paisaje después de un incendio forestal usando la palabra 'quemado'.

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

No, in Spanish you should use 'picante' for spicy food. If you say food is 'quemado', people will think it was overcooked and tastes like charcoal.

Yes, it is very common to say 'el foco está quemado' or 'la bombilla está quemada' when a lightbulb stops working.

You can say 'Estoy sufriendo de agotamiento profesional' or more commonly 'Estoy quemado del trabajo'. Both are understood.

It depends on the gender of the noun. 'Pan quemado' (masculine) vs 'tostada quemada' (feminine).

Usually yes, it implies damage. However, in some contexts like 'azúcar quemada' (caramelized sugar), it is a positive culinary description.

You use 'quemado por el sol'. For example: 'Estoy quemado por el sol' means 'I am sunburned'.

Not exactly. It means 'fed up' or 'exhausted'. If you are angry, use 'enojado' or 'enfadado'.

It is the Spanish name for the game of dodgeball.

Yes, if the internal components failed due to heat or electricity, you can say 'la computadora está quemada'.

It is the past participle of the verb 'quemar', but it is most frequently used as an adjective.