Questions & Answers about Mi celular está dañado.
What does celular refer to in this sentence, and is it the same as “cell phone”?
Celular is the term commonly used in Latin America for a mobile phone. It is equivalent to what English speakers call a “cell phone.” The sentence indicates that the speaker’s phone is in a certain condition.
Why is the verb estar used in “Mi celular está dañado” instead of ser?
In Spanish, estar is used to describe temporary states or conditions, such as being damaged. Ser is reserved for inherent or permanent characteristics. Since the sentence is describing the current state of the phone (i.e., that it’s damaged), estar is the appropriate choice.
What exactly does dañado mean, and can it be interchanged with roto?
Dañado means “damaged,” implying that something is not working properly or has been harmed in some way. Roto specifically means “broken” or “not functioning at all.” Although the two can sometimes be used interchangeably in everyday conversation, dañado often suggests impaired functionality rather than complete breakage.
How should I pronounce dañado, particularly the “ñ” sound?
The “ñ” in dañado is pronounced like the “ny” sound in English words such as “canyon.” The pronunciation can be approximated as “da-NYA-doh,” with the stress on the “nya” syllable.
What is the role of mi in the sentence?
Mi is a possessive adjective meaning “my.” It indicates ownership by the speaker, showing that the phone belongs to them. In Spanish, possessive adjectives agree with the noun they modify, and in this case, mi is used with the singular noun celular.
More from this lesson
AI Language TutorTry it ↗
“How does verb conjugation work in Spanish?”
Spanish verbs change form based on the subject, tense, and mood. Regular verbs follow predictable patterns depending on whether they end in ‑ar, ‑er, or ‑ir. For example, "hablar" (to speak) becomes "hablo" (I speak), "hablas" (you speak), and "habla" (he/she speaks) in the present tense.
Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor
Start learning SpanishMaster Spanish — from Mi celular está dañado to fluency
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods.
- ✓ Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
- ✓ Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
- ✓ Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
- ✓ AI tutor to answer your grammar questions