rayado
/raˈʝado/
The Spanish word for scratched is rayado.
rayado is used to describe a surface that has been marked by thin lines or grooves caused by something sharp. Depending on the context, the word can also mean 'striped', referring to a pattern of lines.
Which one should you use?
While rayado is the standard form for a scratched surface, it can also mean 'striped' (having a pattern of lines) depending on how it is used in a sentence.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form of the word must match the gender and number of the noun it describes. Use rayada if the object is a feminine singular noun, rayados if the objects are masculine and plural and rayadas if the objects are feminine and plural.
How do you pronounce it?
/raˈʝado/
Did you know?
- If you say a person is rayado, you are not saying they have scratches, but rather that they are 'crazy' or 'acting strangely'.
- The word rayado can be confused with rallado, which comes from the verb rallar meaning to grate food like cheese. While they sound identical in most dialects, the latter is never used for a 'scratched' surface.
- The word rayado can be used to describe a 'CD' or 'record' that is scratched, but in many Spanish-speaking countries, it is also a common way to describe a song that is 'stuck' or 'played on repeat'.
Examples in context
- El escritorio parece muy rayado.The desk looks badly scratched.This sentence shows how to describe a desk that is rayado.Tatoeba #10744100 by megamanenm, translation #10744095 by megamanenm
- El coche tiene la pintura arañada.The car has the paint scratched.
- Alguien ha rayado la mesa con un cuchillo.Someone has scratched the table with a knife.
- Mira, tu teléfono está rayado.Look, your phone is scratched.
- ¡Me caí mientras jugaba y quedé rasguñado/a por todas partes!I fell while playing and got scratched all over!
- El libro de mi hermano está marcado con arañazos de mi gato.My brother's book is marked with scratches from my cat.
- El cristal del reloj está muy rayado.The watch crystal is very scratched.
- No quiero ese disco porque está rayado.I don't want that disc because it is scratched.
Example conversation
Lucía and Mateo are checking a used vinyl record at a shop.
- Lucía¿Te gusta este disco de vinilo?Do you like this vinyl record?
- MateoNo, parece que está un poco rayado.No, it looks like it is a little scratched.
- LucíaTienes razón, Mateo, se ve muy rayado.You are right, Mateo, it looks very scratched.
- MateoBusquemos otro que esté en buen estado.Let's look for another one in good condition.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry rayado, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
