"averiar" is a verb (intransitive and transitive).
/abeɾiˈaɾ/
In the Spanish language, "averiar" refers to the act of breaking something down or causing it to malfunction. It is a commonly used term in various contexts, including everyday conversation about machinery, electronics, vehicles, and physical objects that stop working. The word has a moderate frequency of use and is prevalent in both oral and written contexts, though it may be slightly more common in technical discussions or written reports regarding machine issues.
La máquina se averió durante la producción.
The machine broke down during production.
El coche empezó a averiarse en la carretera.
The car started to malfunction on the road.
No sé qué pasó, pero parece que mis auriculares se averiaron.
I don't know what happened, but it seems that my headphones malfunctioned.
While "averiar" itself is rarely part of idiomatic expressions, related terms and phrases using "avería" (breakdown) or "averiarse" (to break down) do appear commonly in Spanish.
Estar de avería.
To be out of order.
El ascensor está de avería y no se puede usar.
The elevator is out of order and cannot be used.
Hacer avería.
To cause damage.
El mal uso de la máquina puede hacer avería en su funcionamiento.
Misuse of the machine can cause damage to its operation.
Sufrir una avería.
To suffer a breakdown.
El tren sufrió una avería y tuvo que detenerse en la estación.
The train suffered a breakdown and had to stop at the station.
The verb "averiar" originates from the noun "avería," which comes from the Latin "aberratio," meaning deviation or damage. Over time, it developed into a term used in Spanish to describe the malfunction or breakdown of physical objects.
Synonyms: - Descomponer (to decompose) - Dañar (to damage) - Romper (to break)
Antonyms: - Reparar (to repair) - Funcionar (to function) - Reconstruir (to rebuild)