Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| estropear | /estɾopeˈaɾ/ |
| echar a perder | /eˌt͡ʃaɾ a peɾˈdeɾ/ |
| dar al traste | /ˌdaɾ al ˈtɾaste/ |
The word spoil can be translated in several ways depending on whether you are talking about mechanical failure, food or a ruined plan. For example, you can use estropear for objects, echar a perder for food and dar al traste for situations that go wrong. If you want to express that something has been significantly negatively impacted, the formal verb arruinar is often used.
Which one should you use?
Estropear is typically used when referring to mechanical or functional things breaking. In contrast, echar a perder is the standard way to describe food going bad or spoiling. For a more idiomatic and colloquial way to say a plan or situation has been ruined or has fallen apart, use dar al traste.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
While estropear is a standard term, dar al traste is more colloquial. To indicate a significant negative impact in a more formal context, you might use arruinar.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some Latin American countries, the idea of spoiling a person through excessive indulgence can be expressed using malcriar or the phrase consentir en demasía.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The past participle estropeado can function as an adjective to describe something that is already spoiled or broken.
How do you pronounce it?
/estɾopeˈaɾ/
Did you know?
- The word estropear is actually a direct borrow from the Italian verb stroppiare, which originally meant to 'lame' or 'maim'.
- The verb perder in echar a perder is the root of the English word 'perdition'.
- If you are talking about a ruined plan using dar al traste, you are using a term related to trasto, which can also mean an old, useless object or 'junk'.
Examples in context
- Demasiada sal estropeará el sabor.Too much salt will spoil the flavor.This sentence shows how the verb estropear can be used to describe a flavor being ruined.Tatoeba #10758838 by arh, translation #11244015 by Luornu
- El agua estropeó el libroThe water spoiled the book.
- La tormenta arruinó nuestras vacacionesThe storm spoiled our vacation.
- Mis abuelos me miman muchoMy grandparents spoil me a lot.
- Mis padres siempre me consientenMy parents always spoil me.
- En Argentina, a los niños los malcrían mucho.In Argentina, children are spoiled a lot.
- Consienten en demasía a sus hijos en esa región.They excessively spoil their children in that region.
- La lluvia puede estropear nuestros planes de picnic.The rain might spoil our picnic plans.
Example conversation
Sofia and Alejandro are talking about their outdoor photography trip.
- SofíaEl mal tiempo va a estropear la sesión de fotos.The bad weather is going to spoil the photo shoot.
- AlejandroNo seas tan pesimista, Sofía.Don't be so pessimistic, Sofia.
- SofíaEs que la humedad puede estropear la cámara.It's just that the humidity could spoil the camera.
- AlejandroYo la llevaré en una funda impermeable.I will carry it in a waterproof case.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “spoil” translations and entries estropear, echar a perder, dar al traste, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries a, dar, echar, estropear, perder, traste, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
