enfadado
Lemma: enfadado
Translation: angry; upset; annoyed; cross; mad (adjective)
Etymology: Derived from the verb 'enfadar' (to anger, to annoy), which comes from the Old Catalan 'enfadar' or possibly from Latin 'in' (into) + 'fastidium' (disgust, annoyance). The '-ado' ending is the masculine past participle form that has become an adjective. The English cognate 'fastidious' shares the Latin root 'fastidium', though with a different semantic development.
Example Usage
Está enfadado porque llegué tarde.
He is angry because I arrived late.
Mi madre está enfadada conmigo.
My mother is upset with me.
No me hables cuando estoy enfadado.
Don't talk to me when I'm angry.
Los niños están enfadados porque no pueden jugar afuera.
The children are upset because they can't play outside.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'enfadado' as being 'fed up' with something - the 'enfa-' part sounds a bit like 'fed up'.
- The 'fad' in 'enfadado' can remind you of something that annoys you, like an irritating fad or trend.
- Imagine someone saying 'enough!' (en-f-ado) when they're angry.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Antonyms
Cultural Context
In Spanish culture, expressing anger can be more direct than in some English-speaking cultures. 'Enfadado' is a common, everyday term to describe being upset or angry, without the stronger connotations that some other anger-related terms might carry. It's used across all age groups and social contexts.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: 'Enfadado' means 'angry' or 'upset', while 'cansado' means 'tired'. They have similar endings but refer to completely different states.
Notes: Both are common adjectives describing emotional or physical states and both end in '-ado', but they describe very different feelings.
Mnemonic: 'Enfadado' has 'fad' in it, which can remind you of something annoying that makes you angry. 'Cansado' has 'can' in it, like 'I can't stay awake' when you're tired.
Explanation: 'Enfadado' means 'angry', while 'aburrido' means 'bored'. Both are emotional states but with different causes and expressions.
Confused word:
Está aburrido porque no hay nada que hacer.
He is bored because there is nothing to do.
Notes: Both describe negative emotional states, but 'enfadado' is a reaction to something upsetting, while 'aburrido' is a reaction to lack of stimulation.
Mnemonic: Think of 'aburrido' as containing 'burr' - like a boring drill making a monotonous sound.