reservado
/reseɾˈbado/
The Spanish word for reserved is reservado.
When describing a person's personality, reservado means they are quiet or reticent, whereas when describing a seat or table, it means it is set aside for a specific use.
Meaning: set aside for a particular person or purpose (adj)
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective must agree in gender with the noun it describes, so use the feminine form reservada for feminine nouns. The adjective must agree in number with the noun it describes, so use the masculine plural form reservados for masculine plural nouns and the feminine plural form reservadas for feminine plural nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/reseɾˈbado/
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, a sign that says reservado on a restaurant table is often ignored by diners who will sit there anyway and only move if a waiter informs them the table is taken.
- In legal contexts, reservado can describe a 'classified' or 'secret' document, such as documento reservado, which is far more restrictive than the personality trait of being quiet.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, calling someone reservado might actually be seen as a compliment, implying they are discreet and prudent rather than just antisocial.
Examples in context
- No seas tan reservado.Don't be so reserved.This is useful for advising someone not to be so reticent using reservado.Tatoeba #1334737 by marcelostockle, translation #51055 by CK
- Bill es muy reservado.Bill is quite reserved.This shows how to describe someone's personality as being quite quiet using reservado.Tatoeba #1546834 by marcelostockle, translation #742046 by CP
- ¿Está reservado este asiento?Is this seat reserved?This demonstrates how to ask if a seat is set aside for a specific use using reservado.Tatoeba #3111455 by marcelostockle, translation #2959287 by sharptoothed
- Soy una persona reservadaI am a reserved person.
- Mi hermano es muy serio y reservadoMy brother is very serious and reserved.
- Juan es calladoJuan is reserved.
- Ella es muy tímida y reservadaShe is very shy and reserved.
- Mi amigo es muy discretoMy friend is very reserved.
- 9 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucía and Javier are at a café in front of an empty table.
- Lucía¿Este lugar está reservado?Is this place reserved?
- JavierNo, no está reservado.No, it is not reserved.
- LucíaPerfecto, nos sentaremos aquí.Perfect, we will sit here.
- JavierMuy bien, Lucía.Very well, Lucía.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “reserved” translations and entries reservado, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
