elaborado
adjectiveCEFR B2
What does “elaborado” mean in English?
elaborate, detailed — carefully and thoroughly constructed; also as past participle: produced/prepared
elaborate, detailed — carefully and thoroughly constructed; also as past participle: produced/prepared (elaborado por)
Example sentences
La propuesta es la más elaborada que hemos visto hasta ahora; incluye un análisis de riesgos en tres fases.
The proposal is the most elaborate we have seen so far; it includes a three-phase risk analysis.
El informe fue elaborado por un equipo interdisciplinar que combinó perfiles técnicos, económicos y sociales.
The report was produced by an interdisciplinary team combining technical, economic, and social profiles.
El consumo de alimentos elaborados con altos niveles de azúcar y sal es uno de los principales problemas nutricionales.
The consumption of processed foods with high levels of sugar and salt is one of the main nutritional problems.
How to use it
Elaborado/a means 'elaborate' or 'detailed' — carefully constructed, with significant work and complexity. Takes ser. Also functions as the past participle of elaborar (to produce, develop, draw up): 'el informe fue elaborado por un equipo de expertos'. Collocations: un plan elaborado, una estrategia muy elaborada, una respuesta elaborada, un discurso elaborado. Note: in the food sense, elaborado = processed/made (alimentos elaborados = processed foods — a key consumer/health term).
Common mistake
Elaborado as an adjective = elaborate/detailed (a quality). Elaborado as a past participle = produced/prepared (elaborado por... = prepared by...). In the food context, alimentos elaborados = processed foods — very different from 'elaborate meals'. Don't confuse with elaborar (the verb: to develop, to produce) — ser elaborado is an adjective judgement on quality, while fue elaborado is a passive construction about production.