empanado
adjectiveInformal
A Peninsular Spanish slang term. Browse all Spanish slang.
What it means
Dazed, slow on the uptake, not paying attention. Estar empanado is to be away with the fairies.
Literally: Breaded.
Examples with translations
Perdona, estaba empanado, ¿qué decías?
Sorry, I was miles away, what were you saying?
Va empanado toda la mañana.
He's been in a daze all morning.
Where it comes from
From empanar, to coat in breadcrumbs — the image is of a mind with a thick crust on it.