Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| corromper | /koromˈpeɾ/ | |
| corrumpir | /korumpiɾ/ (from spelling rules) | nonstandard |
The verb means to change from good to bad. The related adjective corrupto describes someone or something in a depraved state, or something that contains a lot of errors. In official or legal contexts regarding corruption, you might use deshonesto to imply dishonesty or malversación de fondos to specifically refer to the embezzlement or misappropriation of funds.
Which one should you use?
While corrumpir is a recognized nonstandard variant, corromper is the standard and preferred form for the verb.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, mañoso may be used to describe someone involved in corrupt practices. In Argentina, the term chorro is used to describe someone corrupt.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The third-person singular present indicative of corromper is corrompe. The past participle is corrompido, which is used to form perfect tenses or as an adjective.
How do you pronounce it?
/koromˈpeɾ/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use the adjective corrupto when you intend to use the verb 'to corrupt'. Use corromper for the action instead.
Did you know?
- The verb corromper shares its Latin root rumpere with the English word 'rupture', meaning 'to break'.
- In Spanish, corromper is used not only for moral decay but also to describe the physical rotting or decomposition of organic matter.
- The adjective corrupto is used in Spanish computing to describe a 'corrupt' file that contains data errors.
Examples in context
- El poder tiende a corromper y el poder absoluto corrompe absolutamente.Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.This sentence illustrates how power can lead to the action of corromper.Tatoeba #627882 by Shishir, translation #523949 by Dejo
- Eres completamente bello. Tu cuerpo no es nada perverso sino arte y jamás lo corromperé ni lo degradaré presentandolo de manera sexual.You are completely beautiful. Your body is nothing perverse but art and I will never corrupt nor degrade it by presenting it in a sexual manner.This sentence uses corromper to express a refusal to degrade something beautiful.Tatoeba #9131868 by rafaeldejesus8199, translation #9131872 by rafaeldejesus8199
- ¿Por qué la gente tiene que corromper todo?Why do people have to corrupt everything?This sentence uses the form corromper to question why people engage in the act of corrupting everything.Tatoeba #11462921 by DJ_Saidez, translation #9770931 by DJ_Saidez
- El gobierno es corrupto y necesita una reforma estructural.The government is corrupt and needs structural reform.
- Ese político es un chueco, todos saben que es corrupto.That politician is crooked, everyone knows he is corrupt.
Example conversation
Mateo and Sofía are discussing the dangers of greed.
- MateoEl dinero puede corromper a cualquier persona.Money can corrupt anyone.
- SofíaNo creo que eso sea siempre cierto, Mateo.I don't think that is always true, Mateo.
- MateoPero la ambición suele corromper los valores.But ambition usually corrupts values.
- SofíaDepende de la fuerza de cada persona.It depends on each person's strength.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “corrupt” translations and entries corromper, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries corromper, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
