Spanish Conversation · Level 77
60 words
Spanish word
degenerar
Pronunciation
IPA/dexeneˈɾaɾ/
Meaning
- verbdeteriorate
Example
La discusión degeneró rápidamente.
The discussion deteriorated quickly.
More examples
La protesta degeneró en violencia.
The protest degenerated into violence.
Core concept
Turning from order into disorder or corruption.
Common phrases
degenerar en violencia
degenerate into violence
degenerar rápidamente
deteriorate rapidly
Similar words
empeorar: Becomes worse in condition or symptoms, growing more intense or severe.
deteriorar: Loses physical quality or effectiveness, becoming damaged, worn, or degraded.
Definition in Spanish
Llegar a un estado peor por pérdida de calidad, orden o principios, especialmente en conducta o condición.
Word origin
From Latin degenerāre (de- 'away from' + genus 'kind'), literally 'to be unlike one's kind', adopted to describe moral or qualitative decline.
Usage tips
- Use degenerar en + noun to say what something turns into (La discusión degeneró en insultos), since English speakers often try to drop the preposition.
Other meanings
- degenerateverb
- become corruptverb
Related words
- degeneracióndegenerationnoun
- degenerativodegenerativeadjective
- degeneradodepravedadjective