desatascado
/desataskado/from spelling rules
The English word 'unstuck' is translated into Spanish as desatascado.
desatascado is used to describe something that is free from a blockage or no longer trapped in a fixed position. To describe the action of clearing a blockage, such as a drain or a pipe, you would use the verb desatascar (to unclog). If you are speaking informally about getting out of a predicament or resolving a complicated situation, you can use the expression Salir del atolladero.
What does it mean word for word?
The word is formed from the prefix des- (meaning undo or un-) and atascar (meaning to clog or to jam).
How does it change in a sentence?
As an adjective, desatascado must agree in gender and number with the noun it describes. Use the feminine form desatascada for feminine nouns, and the masculine plural form desatascados for masculine plural nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/desataskado/
Did you know?
- The word atasco (the root of desatascado) is the standard term used in Spanish news reports to describe a traffic jam.
- While desatascado is used for physical blockages, the expression salir del atolladero comes from atolladero, which refers to a muddy place where an animal or vehicle gets stuck.
- Spanish uses desatascar for both a physical pipe and a mental block, such as when a writer finally overcomes a creative slump.
Examples in context
- Después de meses de trabajo arduo, finalmente logré desatascar mi carrera profesional.After months of hard work, I finally managed to become unstuck in my professional career.
- Con mucho esfuerzo y dedicación, logré superar la dificultad que me tenía estancado/a.With a lot of effort and dedication, I managed to overcome the difficulty that had me stuck.
- Gracias a la ayuda de un amigo, logré salir del atolladero financiero en el que estaba metido/a.Thanks to a friend's help, I managed to get out of the financial predicament I was in.
- El fregadero ya está desatascado.The sink is finally unstuck.
- El tubo parece estar desatascado ahora.The pipe seems to be unstuck now.
- Por fin el desagüe está desatascado.The drain is finally unstuck.
Example conversation
Alejandro and Lucía are in the kitchen after a plumbing repair.
- Alejandro¿Está desatascado el fregadero, Lucía?Is the sink unstuck, Lucía?
- LucíaSí, Alejandro, ya fluye el agua.Yes, Alejandro, the water is flowing now.
- AlejandroQué bien que el desagüe está desatascado.It's great that the drain is unstuck.
- LucíaMenos mal que pudimos arreglarlo.Thank goodness we could fix it.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
