Spanish Conversation · Level 156
30 words
Spanish word
estropear
Pronunciation
IPA/estɾopeˈaɾ/
Meaning
- verbspoil
Example
No quiero estropear la sorpresa.
I don't want to spoil the surprise.
More examples
Si no lo guardas bien, el calor puede estropear la comida.
If you don't store it properly, the heat can spoil the food.
Core concept
A fruit with brown spots and mold spreading.
Common phrases
estropear la comida
spoil the food
estropear el plan
spoil the plan
estropear la relación
spoil the relationship
Similar words
arruinar: A plan, deal, or effort is ruined so it cannot succeed.
echar a perder: Fresh food spoils, deteriorating until it becomes inedible or useless.
dañar: Physical harm impairs an item's condition until it fails to work.
romper: Force fractures an item so it deforms or its pieces separate.
Definition in Spanish
Arruinar o dañar algo de modo que deje de cumplir su función, valga menos o pierda el efecto previsto.
Word origin
From medieval French estropier originally meaning 'to maim or disable', the verb in Spanish extended to cover physical decay, damage, and things going bad.
Usage tips
- For intransitive deterioration Spanish often uses the pronominal form estropearse (e.g., la leche se estropeó) to mean 'went bad'.