vencido
/benˈθido/
The English phrase "past due" is translated into Spanish as vencido.
In Spanish, vencido is used to describe a payment or task that has not been completed by its required deadline.
What does it mean word for word?
The word vencido is the past participle of the verb vencer, which means to overcome, defeat or expire. In the context of deadlines, it carries the sense of being expired / defeated / lapsed.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, atrasado en el pago may be replaced with demorado en el pago.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form changes to vencida if the noun it describes is feminine, such as una factura vencida (a past due invoice). The form changes to vencidos if the noun it describes is masculine plural, such as pagos vencidos (past due payments). The form changes to vencidas if the noun it describes is feminine plural, such as cuotas vencidas (past due installments).
How do you pronounce it?
/benˈθido/
Did you know?
- While vencido describes a past due bill, the verb vencer is also used in Spanish to describe a pregnancy that has reached its full term.
- Because vencer means 'to defeat', a sports commentator might describe a team that has been beaten in a match as vencido.
- In some Latin American countries, you might hear vencido used for food that has passed its sell-by date, whereas in Spain, caducado is more common for perishables.
Examples in context
- La factura está pendiente de pagoThe invoice is past due.
- El préstamo está vencidoThe loan is past due.
- Estoy atrasado con las cuentasI am past due on the bills.
- Estás en mora con el alquilerYou are past due on the rent.
- La factura de la luz está pendiente de pagoThe electricity bill is past due.
- La cuenta bancaria está vencida por falta de pagoThe bank account is past due due to lack of payment.
- Estoy atrasado con los pagos de la hipotecaI am past due on the mortgage payments.
- Estás en mora con el teléfono móvilYou are past due on the mobile phone bill.
- Tienes un pago vencido en tu cuenta.You have a past due payment in your account.
- El plazo para la tarea ya está vencido.The deadline for the assignment is already past due.
Example conversation
Alejandro and María are talking about their monthly household expenses.
- Alejandro¿Ya pagaste el internet?Did you pay for the internet yet?
- MaríaNo, el recibo ya está vencido.No, the bill is already past due.
- AlejandroDebemos pagarlo hoy mismo.We must pay it today.
- MaríaTienes razón, Alejandro, lo haré ahora.You're right, Alejandro, I'll do it now.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry vencido, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
