If you have ever wondered how do you say adopted in Spanish, the most direct answer is adoptado for a man or boy and adoptada for a woman or girl. This single word opens the door to a much richer set of expressions, including adoptivo/a, adopción, and the verb adoptar, each of which carries its own nuance. Knowing which one to use — and when — is what separates a phrasebook answer from genuinely natural Spanish.
The Short Answer: How Do You Say "Adopted" in Spanish?
The English word "adopted" is the past participle of "to adopt," and Spanish handles it the same way. The translation depends on gender and number:
- adoptado — adopted (masculine, singular)
- adoptada — adopted (feminine, singular)
- adoptados — adopted (masculine, plural, or mixed group)
- adoptadas — adopted (feminine, plural)
Because Spanish adjectives must agree with the noun they describe, you cannot simply memorize one form. A single male cat is un gato adoptado; two female cats are dos gatas adoptadas. This agreement rule applies to almost every adjective in the language, so learning it here pays off far beyond this one word Small thing, real impact..
Understanding the Verb Behind the Word: Adoptar
To use "adopted" confidently, start with the infinitive adoptar ("to adopt"). It is a regular -ar verb, which makes it one of the easiest verbs in Spanish to conjugate:
| Subject | Present | Past (preterite) |
|---|---|---|
| yo | adopto | adopté |
| tú | adoptas | adoptaste |
| él / ella / usted | adopta | adoptó |
| nosotros | adoptamos | adoptamos |
| vosotros | adoptáis | adoptasteis |
| ellos / ustedes | adoptan | adoptaron |
The past participle — the form that means "adopted" — is adoptado, and the present participle ("adopting") is adoptando.
Notice something important: adoptar is much broader than family law. Spanish speakers adoptar pets, laws, resolutions, strategies, and even attitudes. English does this too ("the committee adopted a new policy"), but Spanish does it more frequently, which is worth remembering so you are not surprised by the verb in unrelated contexts.
Adoptado vs. Adoptivo: Which One Do You Use?
This is the distinction that trips up most learners, and it is genuinely useful to get right.
Adoptado/a describes the person who was adopted. It focuses on the event or the status.
- Soy adoptada. — I am adopted.
- El niño adoptado tiene seis años. — The adopted boy is six years old
