envuelto

Envuelto is the past participle of the verb envolver and functions as an adjective meaning that something is wrapped, enclosed, or enveloped by another material or presence. In physical terms, it describes objects that have been covered with paper, cloth, plastic, or another covering, as in “un regalo envuelto en papel” or “la caja está envuelta.” In figurative use, it can describe things that are obscured or surrounded by something, for example “un misterio envuelto” or “un secreto envuelto en rumores.”

Grammatically, envuelto varies by gender and number: envuelto (masculine singular), envuelta (feminine singular), envueltos (masculine plural), envueltas (feminine plural). It also serves as the participle in compound tenses with haber and can appear in passive constructions, as in “ha envuelto” or “fue envuelto.”

In standard usage, envuelto is rarely used as a substantive on its own; when a noun is needed to refer to the wrapped object or to the packaging, Spanish normally uses terms such as envoltorio (wrapper) or paquete (package). In culinary contexts, envuelto describes foods where a filling is encased by another edible layer, such as “envuelto de maíz” or “envuelto de plátano,” and may refer to dishes prepared by wrapping ingredients in leaves, dough, or pastry.

Etymology traces envuelto to el verbo envolver, meaning to wrap or enclose, with the usual adjectival formation that yields the forms envuelto, envuelta, envueltos, envueltas.