oxidado
/oɡsiˈdado/
The Spanish word for 'rusty' is oxidado.
oxidado can be used metaphorically to describe a skill that is out of practice, such as a language, but it is much more commonly used in its literal sense to describe metal covered in rust.
Meaning: lacking recent experience, out of practice (adj)
What does it mean word for word?
The word comes from the verb oxidar (to oxidize), so it literally means 'oxidized'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective must agree in gender and number with the noun it describes. Use oxidada for feminine nouns like la habilidad (the skill). Use oxidados for masculine plural or oxidadas for feminine plural.
How do you pronounce it?
/oɡsiˈdado/
Did you know?
- To describe a voice that sounds 'rusty' or scratchy from disuse or illness, Spanish speakers use the word ronco instead of oxidado.
- The Spanish word óxido can also refer to the color of rust, making oxidado a way to describe a specific reddish-brown hue in art and fashion.
- If you are talking about a machine that is 'rusty' due to disuse, you might also hear the term gripado to describe parts that are stuck.
Examples in context
- Tu cuchillo está oxidado.Your knife is rusty.This sentence shows how to describe a knife as being oxidado.Tatoeba #10559700 by Seael, translation #9192771 by CK
- Mi francés está un poco oxidado.My French is a little rusty.This sentence demonstrates using oxidado to describe a skill like a language.Tatoeba #5854054 by arh, translation #1898312 by CK
- Tom se cortó la mano con un cuchillo oxidado.Tom cut his hand with a rusty knife.This sentence shows how to use oxidado to describe a knife that caused an injury.Tatoeba #1412920 by marcelostockle, translation #1026535 by CK
- Desde que dejé de trabajar en el extranjero, mi inglés está oxidado.Since I stopped working abroad, my English is rusty.
- Desde que dejé de jugar al fútbol, estoy totalmente desentrenado/a.Since I stopped playing soccer, I'm completely rusty.
- Hace meses que no cocino, estoy totalmente fuera de práctica.It's been months since I cooked, I'm completely rusty.
- Después de tanto tiempo sin bailar, mis pasos están flojos.After so much time without dancing, my steps are weak/rusty.
- Después de años sin tocar un lápiz, mi habilidad para dibujar está oxidada.After years without touching a pencil, my drawing skills are rusty.
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Elena and Mateo are talking about their piano skills.
- ElenaHace años que no toco el piano.I haven't played the piano in years.
- MateoYo también, me siento muy oxidado.Me too, I feel very rusty.
- ElenaDeberíamos practicar juntos este fin de semana.We should practice together this weekend.
- MateoEs una gran idea, Elena.That is a great idea, Elena.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “rusty” translations and entries oxidado, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
