Spanish word

desperdigar

Pronunciation

IPA/despeɾðiˈɣaɾ/

Meaning

  • verbscatter

Example

No desperdigues tus cosas por la mesa.

Don't scatter your things across the table.

Illustration for desperdigar (scatter)

More examples

Los niños desperdigaron juguetes por todo el salón.

The children scattered toys all over the room.

Core concept

Loose papers and small items scattered unevenly across a table.

Common phrases

  • desperdigar juguetes

    scatter toys

  • desperdigar las hojas

    scatter leaves

Similar words

desparramar: Objects or contents are flung or spilled outward, spreading across floors or tables with force.
esparcir: Fine particles or tiny bits are scattered widely by sprinkling, landing thinly over an area.
dispersar: A clustered group breaks apart and its parts spread outward from their original center.

Definition in Spanish

Esparcir o repartir cosas pequeñas o papeles de modo que queden desordenados por distintos puntos; puede referirse asimismo a repartir esfuerzos o ideas sin concentración.

Word origin

It comes from Latin dispergere 'to scatter', entering Spanish through Romance developments as desperdigar with the des- prefix indicating separation.

Usage tips

  • Desperdigar is often confused with desperdiciar, but desperdiciar means to waste rather than to scatter.

Other meanings

  • scatter aroundverb
  • scatter widelyverb

Opposites

Related words

  • desperdigadoscatteredadjective

Word lists with this word