Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| armado [con] | /aɾˈmado kon/ (word by word) |
| armífero | /aɾmifeɾo/ (from spelling rules) |
| provisto [de] |
The word armado is the standard way to describe a person or group carrying weapons, such as un hombre armado (an armed man). Related to this, the verb armar means 'to arm' and the expression Armar(se) de means 'To arm oneself with'.
Which one should you use?
While English uses 'armed with', the most common Spanish construction uses the preposition 'con' (with) or 'de' (of) depending on the specific word chosen.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective must agree in gender with the noun it modifies, so use armada for feminine nouns. The adjective must agree in number with the noun it modifies, so use armados for masculine plural nouns and armadas for feminine plural nouns. When used as a noun with a feminine article, la armada refers to a navy or a fleet. Additionally, the word armífero can be used to mean 'armed'.
Did you know?
- The word armar can also mean 'to assemble' or 'to build', such as when you armas un rompecabezas (assemble a jigsaw puzzle).
- The Spanish term armar can also be used idiomatically in the phrase armar un lío, which means 'to cause a mess' or 'to create a fuss'.
- In a figurative sense, you can armarse de abstract qualities, such as armarse de paciencia (to arm oneself with patience).
Examples in context
- El soldado estaba armado con un rifle.The soldier was armed with a rifle.
- La policía está provista de armas reglamentarias.The police are armed with regulation weapons.
- Los delincuentes estaban armados con pistolas.The criminals were armed with pistols.
- Ante el peligro, se arma de valor.In the face of danger, he/she arms themselves with courage.
- Juan se arma con una navaja para protección personal.Juan arms himself with a knife for personal protection.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “armed” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (armado, con) and can differ in connected speech.
