Spanish Conversation · Level 23
90 words
Spanish word
desaprovechar
Pronunciation
IPA/desapɾoβeˈtʃaɾ/
Meaning
- verbwaste
Example
No debes desaprovechar esta oportunidad.
You must not waste this opportunity.
More examples
No podemos desaprovechar las oportunidades que nos da la vida.
We cannot waste the opportunities that life gives us.
Core concept
Time slipping away on a clock face.
Common phrases
desaprovechar una oportunidad
waste an opportunity
desaprovechar el tiempo
waste time
Similar words
perder: Lose something or a chance so it cannot be recovered.
dejar pasar: Let a chance pass by through inaction.
malgastar: Spend money, time, or effort wastefully until it is gone.
desperdiciar: Waste or throw away food or other resources so they become unusable.
Definition in Spanish
No usar o usar mal algo (una oportunidad, tiempo o recurso) de manera que no produzca beneficio.
Word origin
Desaprovechar combines the prefix des- 'not' with aprovechar 'to make use of', and aprovechar is connected to the noun provecho 'benefit'.
Usage tips
- Desaprovechar is used mainly for missed opportunities or unused time, while desperdiciar is more common for wasting physical things such as food or money.
Other meanings
- missverb
Opposites
- aprovecharmake use ofverb
Related words
- desaprovechadowastedadjective
- desaprovechamientowastefulnessnoun