perineo
/peɾiˈneo/
The English phrase 'taint' can be translated into Spanish as perineo.
The word is used to describe the act of contaminating or corrupting something with an external agent, whether the process is physical or moral.
Meaning: To contaminate or corrupt something with an external agent, either physically or morally (verb)
How do you pronounce it?
/peɾiˈneo/
Did you know?
- The word perineo is actually a biological term in Spanish, referring to the anatomical area between the genitals and the anus.
- To describe a 'tainted' or corrupted person in a political sense, Spanish speakers may use the word podrido, which literally means 'rotten'.
- In some Spanish dialects, the word viciado is used to describe a 'tainted' atmosphere or habit, coming from the word for 'vice'.
Example conversation
Lucía and Mateo are talking about a polluted river.
- LucíaMateo, mira cómo los químicos perineo el agua.Mateo, look how the chemicals taint the water.
- MateoEs terrible, ya no se puede nadar aquí.It's terrible, you can't swim here anymore.
- LucíaToda la zona natural está sufriendo.The entire natural area is suffering.
- MateoDebemos informar esto a las autoridades.We should report this to the authorities.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry perineo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
