colocado

Colocado is a word used in Spanish and Portuguese as the past participle of the verb colocar, meaning to put or to place. In both languages, colocado functions primarily as an adjective meaning “placed” or “located” and as part of compound verb forms, where it agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies. Etymologically, it derives from Latin collocare, meaning to place together.

In Portuguese, colocado describes something that has been placed or installed. Examples include “A obra está colocada na parede” (The painting is placed on the wall) and “Ele foi colocado em um novo cargo” (He was placed in a new position). The feminine form is colocada, and the plural forms are colocados and colocadas.

In Spanish, colocado likewise means “placed” or “positioned” and agrees in gender and number (colocado, colocada). It is used to describe objects, settings, arrangements, or people in a given location. For example, “las piezas están colocadas correctamente” and “ha sido colocado en su banco” (he has been placed in his seat). In some regional uses, “colocado” can also appear as a noun to refer informally to a person who has obtained employment or a position, though this usage is context-dependent and relatively informal.

Related terms include colocación (the act or result of placing) and colocante (less common), with cognates existing in other Romance languages.