Atascado vs. trabado
The Spanish words 'atascado' and 'trabado' both roughly translate to the English terms 'stuck', 'jammed', or 'blocked'. However, they can be used in different contexts which subtly change their meanings.
Atascado
'Atascado' usually describes when something is stuck because of a blockage or congestion. It directly translates to 'backed up' or 'clogged up'.
El desagüe está atascado.
(The drain is clogged up.)
Estoy atascado en el tráfico.
(I'm stuck in traffic.)
Trabado
'Trabado' often describes when something is jammed and not able to move freely. This is especially used when a certain mechanism fails to work properly.
La puerta está trabada.
(The door is jammed.)
El cajón del escritorio está trabado.
(The desk drawer is jammed.)
Summary
'Atascado' and 'trabado' both convey the idea of being 'stuck' or 'jammed', but their usage depends on the context. While 'atascado' is generally used to express a blockage caused by congestion, such as traffic or a clogged pipe, 'trabado' typically portrays the idea of something being jammed and unable to move, like a door that won't open.