verb

estragar

spoil

Hacer que algo se dañe, pierda su buen estado o deje de servir bien.

Word: estragar

Meaning:
"Estragar" is a Spanish verb that means to spoil, ruin, damage, or destroy something. It refers to the act of causing harm or deterioration, often implying that the item or situation becomes unusable, less effective, or worthless as a result.

Breakdown:

  • The verb "estragar" comes from the Latin word extricare meaning to free, but evolved in Spanish to mean causing harm or ruin.
  • It is conjugated as a regular verb in -ar, for example:
    • Yo estrago (I spoil)
    • Tú estragas (You spoil)

Synonyms:

  • Dañar (to damage)
  • Echar a perder (to spoil)
  • Estropear (to ruin/spoil)
  • Arruinar (to ruin)
  • Destruir (to destroy)

Antonyms:

  • Reparar (to repair)
  • Arreglar (to fix)
  • Conservar (to preserve)
  • Proteger (to protect)

Additional notes:

  • "Estragar" is generally used in a negative context, referring to deteriorating objects, health, plans, or situations.
  • Example sentence:
    • La humedad ha estragado los libros antiguos.
      (The humidity has ruined the old books.)

In short, estragar means to cause damage or spoil something, rendering it less useful or desirable.

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Examples

El paso del tiempo estraga lentamente las paredes antiguas.verb

The passage of time slowly spoils the old walls.

El aire húmedo estragó rápidamente los libros guardados en el sótano.verb

The humid air spoiled the books stored in the basement quickly.

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