congestionado
/konxestjonado/from spelling rules
The English phrase "congested" is translated into Spanish as congestionado.
congestionado is used to describe something that is blocked or crowded, typically referring to traffic or a nasal passage. The noun form of this adjective is congestión.
Which one should you use?
While congestionado can be used for both traffic and physical congestion like a nose, in many Spanish-speaking regions, speakers more commonly use the verb phrase estar congestionado to describe a nose and haber mucho tráfico to describe roads.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective must agree in gender with the noun it describes, so use the feminine form congestionada for feminine nouns like la calle (the street).
How do you pronounce it?
/konxestjonado/
Did you know?
- In some Latin American countries, the word embotellado is used for traffic congestion, literally meaning 'bottled'.
- When describing a street filled with cars, Spanish speakers often say la calle está colapsada, which translates to the street being 'collapsed'.
- A person with a blocked nose might also use the word tapado, as in tengo la nariz tapada, which is a much more common, colloquial way to express the same feeling of being 'congested'.
Examples in context
- El tráfico está congestionado.The traffic's congested.This sentence illustrates the use of congestionado to describe traffic.Tatoeba #2268597 by hayastan, translation #2268596 by _undertoad
- El centro de la ciudad está congestionado hoy.The city center is congested today.
Example conversation
Elena and Javier are discussing their morning commute.
- ElenaLlegué tarde porque el centro estaba congestionado.I arrived late because downtown was congested.
- JavierYo también tuve problemas con el tráfico.I had problems with the traffic too.
- ElenaFue un caos total en la avenida principal.It was total chaos on the main avenue.
- JavierMañana saldré de casa más temprano, Elena.Tomorrow I will leave home earlier, Elena.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry congestionado, 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.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
