Spanish word

destapar

Pronunciation

IPA/destaˈpaɾ/

Meaning

  • verbtake the lid off

Example

Voy a destapar la botella.

I'm going to take the lid off the bottle.

Illustration for destapar (take the lid off)

More examples

Si el lavabo está atascado, tienes que destapar el desagüe.

If the sink is clogged, you have to unclog the drain.

Core concept

Hand lifting a lid off a jar.

Common phrases

  • destapar el desagüe

    unclog the drain

  • destapar el tapón

    remove the stopper

Similar words

abrir: Unseals or opens a container or package to allow access to its contents.
quitar: Pulls off a cover or cap that is sitting on or attached to an object.
desenroscar: Turns a screw-on cap to loosen it and remove it.
sacar: Removes something from inside a box, bag, or container.

Definition in Spanish

Hacer que algo cubierto o taponado quede descubierto o libre, ya sea quitando la tapa o liberando una obstrucción; también revelar información ocultada.

Word origin

From prefix des- 'undoing' plus tapar 'to cover', originally meaning to remove a cover and by extension to free a blocked opening or reveal what was hidden.

Usage tips

  • Meaning shifts with the object: destapar la botella = take the lid off, destapar el desagüe = unclog, destapar un escándalo = expose wrongdoing, so include the object to clarify the sense.

Other meanings

  • uncorkverb
  • unclogverb
  • revealverb

Opposites

  • obstruirclogverb
  • taparcoververb

Related words

  • destapadorbottle openernoun
  • destapadoexposedadjective

Word lists with this word