Spanish word

despilfarrar

Pronunciation

IPA/despilfaˈraɾ/

Meaning

  • verbwaste

Example

No debes despilfarrar tu dinero.

You must not waste your money.

Illustration for despilfarrar (waste)

More examples

Ella suele despilfarrar dinero en ropa que no usa.

She usually wastes money on clothes she doesn't wear.

Core concept

Money flowing down a drain.

Common phrases

  • despilfarrar dinero

    waste money

  • despilfarrar tiempo

    waste time

  • despilfarrar recursos

    waste resources

Similar words

gastar: Use money to buy goods or pay for services in routine, everyday spending.
malgastar: Misuse money or time in ways that waste resources and give little return.
desperdiciar: Waste or destroy something valuable so that its usefulness or value is lost.
derrochar: Spend money ostentatiously on extravagance and showy consumption.

Definition in Spanish

Gastar en exceso dinero, tiempo u otros bienes sin obtener provecho.

Word origin

From the Spanish negative prefix des- plus an older pilfarrar meaning 'to squander', so despilfarrar means to squander or spend excessively.

Usage tips

  • Stronger than gastar and often used critically to say someone spends money, time, or energy with no benefit, so name what is wasted (dinero, tiempo, energía) to be clear.

Other meanings

  • squanderverb

Opposites

  • ahorrarsaveverb
  • economizareconomizeverb

Related words

Word lists with this word