“Estar hecho polvo” means “to be exhausted” or “to be wrecked”.
Literally “to be turned into dust”. Spaniards say it after a long day, a bad night or a hard workout: Estoy hecho polvo, me voy a la cama = I’m shattered, I’m going to bed.
Hola! I’m Mónica, a Spanish teacher from Madrid. After a day walking around Madrid in August, every tourist and every madrileño says the same thing: estoy hecho polvo. Here’s how to use it, its second meaning, and one very important warning.
How to use “estar hecho polvo”
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Estoy hecha polvo, he trabajado doce horas. | I’m shattered, I’ve worked twelve hours. |
| Después del partido, los jugadores estaban hechos polvo. | After the match, the players were wrecked. |
| Desde que lo dejó con su novia, está hecho polvo. | Since he broke up with his girlfriend, he’s devastated. |
| Este sofá está hecho polvo. | This sofa is completely worn out. |
Grammar tip: hecho agrees with the person. Estoy hecho polvo (man), estoy hecha polvo (woman), estamos hechos polvo (plural).
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Get the free guide →Two meanings: tired and devastated
It can be physical (exhausted) or emotional (devastated, heartbroken). It can even describe objects in a terrible state, like an old sofa or a pair of trainers.
Warning: hecho polvo ≠ echar un polvo
This is the mistake that makes Spaniards laugh. Estar hecho polvo (with h, from hacer) means exhausted. Echar un polvo (without h, from echar) is a vulgar way to say to have sex. They sound almost the same, so pay attention to the verb: estar hecho polvo always goes with estar.
Similar expressions
| Expression | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Estar reventado | To be wrecked (Spain, very common) |
| Estar molido | To be worn out (lit. “ground”) |
| Estar muerto | To be dead tired |
| Estar agotado | To be exhausted (neutral) |
| No poder más | To be unable to go on |
| Estar para el arrastre | To be done for (Spain) |
FAQ
Is “estar hecho polvo” informal?
Yes, informal but not rude. Safe with anyone.
How do you say “I’m tired” in Spanish?
Estoy cansado (man) or estoy cansada (woman). Very tired: estoy hecho polvo or estoy reventado.
Can I use it for something broken?
Yes: el coche está hecho polvo = the car is a wreck.
More Spanish expressions from Spain
This article is part of my series on real Spanish expressions, the ones Spaniards use every day and textbooks never teach:
- Estar como una cabra
- Ponerse las pilas
- Costar un ojo de la cara
- No pasa nada
- ¡Qué fuerte!
- Me importa un pepino
- Ser pan comido
- Estar en las nubes
- Tomar el pelo
- Meter la pata
- Dar la lata
- Echar una mano
- En el quinto pino
- Ojalá
- Venga
- Eres la leche
- Toma tomate, tómalo
👉 See all Spanish expressions from Spain
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