Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| rasgar | /rasˈɡaɾ/ | |
| desgarrar | /desɡaˈraɾ/ | |
| ripear | /ripeˈaɾ/ | Cuba |
The verb refers to the act of dividing or separating parts of something.
Which one should you use?
rasgar is typically used when you are tearing a surface or a fabric, such as paper. desgarrar is used when the tearing is more violent, forceful or deep.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Cuba, the word ripear is used to mean "to rip". In Mexico, the phrase Descansa en paz or Descanse en paz is commonly used for both formal and informal contexts.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/rasˈɡaɾ/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often use the English acronym 'RIP' in Spanish-speaking contexts, but the standard Spanish abbreviations are DEP or Q.E.P.D.
When do people say it?
Descanse en paz is a formal expression for "Rest in Peace", and Que en paz descanse is a formal way to convey respects to the deceased and their loved ones. In Argentina, the abbreviation Q.E.P.D (standing for Que en paz descanse) is used in obituaries and social media. The abbreviations DEP or Q.E.P.D. (and the lowercase version q. e. p. d.) are used to represent "rest in peace" in written form.
Did you know?
- The verb desgarrar contains the word garra, which means 'claw'. This makes the word literally mean 'to claw apart', reflecting the violent nature of the action.
- The word rasgar is a linguistic relative of the English medical term 'resect', which means to surgically remove part of an organ.
Examples in context
- Señora Rodriguez, mis condolencias por su pérdidaMrs. Rodriguez, my condolences for your loss
- No quiero rasgar el papel de regalo.I don't want to rip the wrapping paper.
- Él empezó a rasgar las hojas del libro.He started to rip the pages of the book.
- Es fácil rasgar la tela si es vieja.It is easy to rip the fabric if it is old.
Example conversation
Lucía and Alejandro are looking at an old map.
- LucíaTen cuidado al rasgar el mapa viejo.Be careful when ripping the old map.
- AlejandroNo te preocupes, lo haré con cuidado.Don't worry, I will do it carefully.
- LucíaSi lo haces mal, podrías rasgarlo de más.If you do it wrong, you might rip it too much.
- AlejandroEntiendo, tendré mucho cuidado con el papel.I understand, I will be very careful with the paper.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “rip” translations and entries rasgar, desgarrar, ripear, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries desgarrar, rasgar, ripear, CC BY-SA 4.0.
