devastado
/debasˈtado/
The English word "devastated" is translated into Spanish as devastado.
devastado is used to describe someone who is upset and shocked, or to describe things that have been physically destroyed, such as by war or natural disasters. You can increase the intensity of this feeling by using the adverbs completamente (completely), absolutamente (absolutely) or totalmente (totally).
Meaning: upset and shocked (adj)
Which one should you use?
When describing a person's emotional state of being devastated, you should use the verb estar (for example, estoy devastado) rather than the verb ser.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective must agree in gender and number with the person or thing it describes. Use devastado for a masculine singular noun, devastada for a feminine singular noun, devastados for a masculine plural or mixed-gender group and devastadas for a group consisting only of women or feminine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/debasˈtado/
Did you know?
- The word devastado shares a root with vasta, meaning 'vast' or 'empty'. This connects the emotional feeling of being devastated to the physical image of a wide, empty wasteland.
- If someone is devastated by a sudden shock, a Spaniard might use the expression quedarse en shock, adopting the English word 'shock' because the Spanish equivalent conmoción sounds more medical.
- While devastado is correct, Spanish speakers frequently use hundido, which literally means 'sunk', to describe the feeling of being devastated by grief.
Examples in context
- Actualmente, Yemen es un país devastado por la guerra.Currently, Yemen is a country devastated by war.This sentence shows the literal use of devastado to describe a country affected by war.Tatoeba #7927708 by Seael, translation #9149221 by rafaeldejesus8199
- Estaría devastado.I'd be devastated.This sentence shows how to express a hypothetical state of being devastated using devastado.Tatoeba #4317559 by pchamorro, translation #2247649 by CK
- Estoy tan devastado.I am so devastated.This sentence shows how to express a current personal state of being devastated using devastado.Tatoeba #1406410 by marcelostockle, translation #1369524 by Spamster
- Después de la noticia, él estaba devastado por la pérdida de su trabajo.After the news, he was devastated by the loss of his job.
- Ella se sintió desolada después de la tragedia que afectó a su familia.She felt devastated after the tragedy that impacted her family.
- Después de la ruptura, él estaba destrozado por dentro.After the breakup, he was devastated inside.
- Ella estaba hecha polvo cuando su equipo perdió el partido.She was devastated when her team lost the match.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mateo and María are talking after hearing some sad news.
- MateoÉl está devastado por la noticia.He is devastated by the news.
- MaríaSí, es una situación muy triste.Yes, it is a very sad situation.
- MateoNo puedo creer que esto pasara.I cannot believe this happened.
- MaríaYo también me siento así.I feel that way too.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “devastated” translations and entries devastado, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
