What does it mean word for word?
muy means "very" and cansado is the past participle of the verb cansar (to tire), functioning here as an adjective.
Which one should you use?
While muy cansado is the standard way to express this, you can use estoy cansadísimo to express an even higher degree of tiredness than "very tired."
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, the word muerto can be used informally to express being very tired. In Argentina, the phrase Estoy hecho/a bolsa is used to mean "I'm done" or "I'm wiped out." In Spain, the idiom Estoy reventado/a is used to say "I'm exhausted" or "I'm knackered."
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase must agree in gender and number with the person or group being described. Use muy cansado for a male and muy cansada for a female. Use muy cansados to describe a group of men or a mixed-gender group, and muy cansadas to describe a group consisting only of women.
Did you know?
- Because cansado is a past participle, using it with the verb ser instead of estar can shift the meaning from being 'tired right now' to being a 'tired person' by nature.
- The Argentinian expression estoy hecho bolsa literally means 'I am made into a bag'.
- If you want to sound even more exhausted in Spain, you can say estoy reventado, which literally translates to 'I am burst' or 'I am exploded'.
Examples in context
- Te ves muy cansado.You look very tired.This sentence uses muy cansado to show how someone looks.Tatoeba #1410096 by marcelostockle, translation #16475 by CK
- Tom está muy cansado.Tom is very tired.This sentence uses muy cansado to state Tom's current state.Tatoeba #1235208 by hayastan, translation #1024754 by CK
- Él estaba muy cansado.He was very tired.This sentence uses muy cansado to describe a past state.Tatoeba #763707 by Shishir, translation #292157 by CS
- Estoy muerto de cansancioI'm dead tired
- 55 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Javier and Lucía are talking in their living room after work.
- JavierHoy estoy muy cansado.Today I am very tired.
- LucíaYo también estoy muy cansada.I am very tired too.
- Javier¿Quieres ir a dormir?Do you want to go to sleep?
- LucíaSí, por favor.Yes, please.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
