In Spanish, you’ll usually say “electrocutado/electrocutada” or use “electrocutarse,” then match tense, person, and tone.
“Electrocuted” can mean two things in English: harmed by electric current, or killed by it. Spanish can express both, so the safest move is to choose wording that fits the scene: an accident report, a news line, a safety warning, or a casual retelling. This page gives you the standard translations, how to shape them for gender and tense, and what Spanish speakers tend to pick when they want clean, clear meaning right now.
What Spanish Words Match The Meaning Of “Electrocuted”
The core adjective is electrocutado (masculine) and electrocutada (feminine). It works like “injured by electricity” and, in many contexts, it’s understood as serious harm. If you need to point to death, add detail with a short clause instead of swapping to a rare synonym that may sound stiff.
Most Direct Translation
- Electrocutado / electrocutada — “electrocuted” as an adjective.
- Se electrocutó — “he/she got electrocuted,” using the reflexive verb.
When You Must Make The Outcome Clear
If the person died, Spanish writers often state it plainly: murió tras recibir una descarga eléctrica (“died after receiving an electric shock”). That line removes confusion, and it reads natural in reports and safety notes.
Pronunciation And Spelling Notes That Save You From Awkward Reads
These words are long, so a small spelling slip can make them hard to scan. Two details help: where the stress falls, and when Spanish uses an accent mark.
Stress And Sounds
Electrocutado breaks into beats like e-lec-tro-cu-TA-do. The stress lands on ta. In speech, many people swallow the middle a bit, so it can sound like “elektrokutao,” yet the written form stays the same.
Why “Electrocutó” Has An Accent Mark
Electrocutó is the preterite “he/she electrocuted” or “it electrocuted.” Spanish marks the final ó to show the stress lands on the last syllable. In the reflexive line se electrocutó, that accent mark is not optional.
How to Say ‘Electrocuted’ in Spanish In A Sentence
Here are clean patterns you can copy. Pick the one that matches who did the action, when it happened, and whether you’re speaking or writing.
Adjective Pattern With Ser Or Estar
Está electrocutado. This points to a current state after the event. You’ll hear it in first aid talk, in a call to emergency services, or in a lab story where the speaker wants a crisp description.
Fue electrocutado. This points to a past event and often feels report-like. It can sound passive, so it fits news, summaries, and formal writing.
Verb Pattern With Electrocutarse
Se electrocutó. This is the go-to spoken line for “got electrocuted.” It’s short, clear, and easy to conjugate.
Me electrocuté. “I got electrocuted.” People may use this after a mild shock too, even when it was not fatal, since day-to-day talk can lean dramatic at times.
Clear “Electric Shock” Pattern
Recibió una descarga eléctrica. This means “received an electric shock.” It’s calmer and more precise, so it works well in safety training, manuals, and school writing.
Gender, Number, And Agreement Rules That Matter
Spanish adjectives agree with the person or group you’re describing. That means “electrocuted” changes shape.
Singular
- electrocutado — a man or a masculine noun
- electrocutada — a woman or a feminine noun
Plural
- electrocutados — a group of men or a mixed group
- electrocutadas — a group of women
If you’re not sure which form to use, match the noun: la víctima is feminine, so you’d write la víctima electrocutada, even if the victim is male.
Tense And Person Cheatsheet For Electrocutarse
The reflexive verb electrocutarse follows standard -ar endings. Memorize the past and present, and you can handle most conversations.
Present
- me electrocuto
- te electrocutas
- se electrocuta
- nos electrocutamos
- se electrocutan
Preterite (Simple Past)
- me electrocuté
- te electrocutaste
- se electrocutó
- nos electrocutamos
- se electrocutaron
Table Of Common Phrases And When To Use Them
Spanish gives you a few reliable routes. Use this table to pick wording that matches the setting and level of formality.
| Spanish Phrase | Best Use | Plain English Sense |
|---|---|---|
| Está electrocutado/a | Emergency description | Is electrocuted (current state) |
| Fue electrocutado/a | Formal report line | Was electrocuted |
| Se electrocutó | Storytelling | Got electrocuted |
| Me electrocuté | First-person story | I got electrocuted |
| Recibió una descarga eléctrica | Training, manuals | Received an electric shock |
| Sufrió una descarga eléctrica | Medical tone | Suffered an electric shock |
| Murió tras recibir una descarga eléctrica | When death must be explicit | Died after an electric shock |
| Le dio un calambrazo | Minor jolt | Got a quick jolt |
| Quedó inconsciente por la corriente | Extra detail | Passed out from the current |
Active Voice, Passive Voice, And The “Se” Option
Spanish gives you choices for who “did” the action. Your pick changes the feel of the sentence.
Direct Active Voice
La corriente lo electrocutó. This mirrors “The current electrocuted him.” It’s clear and direct, yet it can feel blunt, so it shows up more in reports than in chat.
Passive With Ser
Fue electrocutado por la corriente. This keeps attention on the victim. It’s common in news writing and official summaries.
Accidental “Se” Construction
Se electrocutó con un cable pelado. This frames it as an accident and sounds natural in speech. It’s a good pick when you don’t want a heavy, report-like tone.
Common Mistakes English Speakers Make
Most slips come from copying English structure too closely. These fixes keep your Spanish clean and believable.
Overusing “Electrocutado” For Minor Shocks
In some places, electrocutarse can imply severe harm. If the shock was small, use a softer line: Me dio una descarga (“I got a shock”) or Me dio un calambrazo (“I got a jolt”).
Forgetting That “Descarga” Is The Workhorse Word
Descarga eléctrica is the standard term for “electric shock.” If you’re writing lab rules, safety tips, or classroom notes, it often reads clearer than repeating electrocutado in each sentence.
Mixing Up “Electrocución” And “Electrocutado”
Electrocución is the noun (“electrocution”). Electrocutado is the adjective (“electrocuted”). In writing, it’s easy to keep them straight by pairing the noun with a verb: Hubo una electrocución, then describing the person with the adjective: quedó electrocutado.
Practical Mini-Scenarios You Can Reuse
Seeing the phrase in context helps you pick the right register. Swap names, places, and times, and you’ll have ready-made lines.
At Home After A Small Shock
Me dio una descarga al tocar el enchufe. You’re saying you got shocked when you touched the outlet. It’s plain and calm.
In A Workplace Incident Note
El técnico se electrocutó al revisar el panel. This reads like a report sentence, yet it still sounds normal.
In News-Style Writing
La víctima fue electrocutada mientras reparaba una línea. This is formal, and it fits headlines and summaries.
When You Need To State Death With No Guessing
Murió tras recibir una descarga eléctrica durante la reparación. Short, direct, and clear about the result.
Related Words You’ll See Around This Topic
When Spanish speakers talk about electrical accidents, a few words show up again and again. Knowing them helps you read articles, warnings, and textbooks without guessing.
- corriente — current
- voltaje — voltage
- enchufe — plug or outlet
- cable pelado — exposed wire
- cortocircuito — short circuit
- interruptor — switch
- tablero eléctrico — electrical panel
- aislamiento — insulation
- tierra — grounding (earth)
Table For Choosing The Best Translation Fast
Use this picker when you’re stuck between “electrocuted” and “electric shock.” It helps you match clarity, tone, and setting without overthinking.
| If You Mean… | Spanish You Can Write | Why It Fits |
|---|---|---|
| Serious injury, outcome unknown | Está electrocutado/a | Describes the state after the event |
| Past incident, formal tone | Fue electrocutado/a | Reads like a report line |
| Spoken retelling | Se electrocutó | Short and natural in speech |
| Minor shock | Me dio una descarga | Honest and common wording |
| School, manuals, safety notes | Recibió una descarga eléctrica | Precise, low-drama phrasing |
| Death must be stated | Murió tras recibir una descarga eléctrica | Removes confusion about outcome |
| Cause is an outlet or wire | Se electrocutó con el enchufe/cable | Matches a common spoken pattern |
| Noun form is needed | electrocución | Names the event itself |
Quick Practice Drill To Lock It In
Try this short drill. Say each English line out loud, then say the Spanish line right after it. This trains speed, not just recognition.
- “He got electrocuted fixing the panel.” → Se electrocutó al arreglar el panel.
- “She was electrocuted during the repair.” → Fue electrocutada durante la reparación.
- “I got a shock touching the outlet.” → Me dio una descarga al tocar el enchufe.
- “The current electrocuted him.” → La corriente lo electrocutó.
- “He died after an electric shock.” → Murió tras recibir una descarga eléctrica.
Extra Phrasing For School And Work Writing
Some assignments want a neutral tone, not dramatic storytelling. In those cases, you can lean on descarga eléctrica wording and add one plain detail about the cause. That keeps the sentence clear, even for readers who are still learning Spanish.
Try these patterns when you need a calm line that still sounds natural:
- Recibió una descarga eléctrica al tocar un cable. Simple, direct, and easy to grade.
- Sufrió una descarga eléctrica por un enchufe dañado. Slightly more formal, still clear.
- Hubo una electrocución durante la reparación. Uses the noun when the event is the subject.
If you write electrocutado/a, add context when the outcome matters: injury, unconsciousness, or death. One short clause can prevent a reader from guessing wrong.
Final Checks Before You Use It In Writing
When you’re writing homework, a translation, or a safety note, run these checks. They prevent the two most common issues: unclear outcome and wrong agreement.
- Pick electrocutado/a when you want the adjective “electrocuted.”
- Pick electrocutarse when you want “got electrocuted” in a tight verb form.
- Use descarga eléctrica when you want a precise “electric shock” line.
- Match gender and number to the noun you describe.
- If death matters to the meaning, state it directly with a short clause.
- Check accent marks in electrocutó and electrocuté before you hit publish.
With those pieces, you can translate “electrocuted” into Spanish in a way that fits real writing and real speech, in class and at work, without guessing what the reader will assume.