Spanish Conversation · Level 117
59 words
Spanish word
plagar
Pronunciation
IPA/plaˈɣaɾ/
Meaning
- verbinfest
Example
Los insectos plagaron la cosecha.
The insects infested the harvest.
More examples
Las noticias falsas plagan las redes sociales.
Fake news plagues social networks.
Core concept
A field overrun by swarms of pests.
Common phrases
plagar las redes sociales
plague social networks
plagar el país
overrun the country
plagar de críticas
be rife with criticism
Similar words
infestar: Cause a heavy outbreak of pests or pathogens in a particular place, creating serious nuisance.
invadir: Enter and occupy a place or territory, penetrating and taking control of it.
propagar: Spread diseases, ideas, or information broadly across people or regions.
arrasar: Ravage a place with overwhelming force or intensity, leaving widespread destruction.
Definition in Spanish
Provocar la propagación y la abundancia de algo perjudicial o molesto en un entorno, de modo que resulte frecuente o dominante.
Word origin
From Latin plaga 'plague, calamity' via Spanish plaga 'pest, scourge', with the verbal suffix -ar forming plagar 'to cause a harmful thing to spread'.
Usage tips
- The verb carries a strong negative sense, so use llenar or cubrir for neutral 'fill' and reserve plagar for harmful, pervasive infestations.