castigado
/kastiˈɡado/
In Spanish, the English phrase 'grounded' (in the sense of being confined for a misdemeanor) is expressed as castigado.
The term is used to describe a person who is confined to their room for some misdemeanor.
Meaning: confined to one's room for some misdemeanor (adj)
What does it mean word for word?
The word castigado literally means 'punished'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective castigado must agree in gender and number with the person being grounded. Use castigada if the person is female, and castigados if more than one person is grounded.
How do you pronounce it?
/kastiˈɡado/
Did you know?
- If you want to say someone is 'grounded' due to a flight cancellation, you cannot use castigado. You would instead use retenido or say the flight was cancelado.
- The word castigado shares a distant ancestor with the English word 'castigate'. Both words descend from the Latin 'castigare', which means 'to make pure' or 'to keep in order'.
- To say someone is 'grounded' in the sense of being mentally stable or practical, Spanish uses centrado rather than castigado.
Examples in context
- Tom fue castigado por tres semanas.Tom was grounded for three weeks.This sentence shows how to express the duration of being grounded using castigado.Tatoeba #1279948 by marcelostockle, translation #1140977 by CK
- Estoy castigado.I'm grounded.This sentence is a simple way to state that one is currently grounded using castigado.Tatoeba #10056300 by Shishir, translation #2111728 by CK
- Después de su retiro espiritual, José se encuentra más centrado en su trabajo y familia.After his spiritual retreat, José is more grounded in his work and family.
- El niño está castigado en su cuarto.The boy is grounded in his room.
Example conversation
A mother tells her son why he cannot go out.
- MaríaMateo, no puedes salir hoy.Mateo, you cannot go out today.
- Mateo¿Por qué estoy castigado, mamá?Why am I grounded, mom?
- MaríaPor no hacer tus deberes.For not doing your homework.
- MateoLo siento, lo haré mañana.I am sorry, I will do it tomorrow.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “grounded” translations and entries castigado, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries castigado, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
