The word "estropearse" is a verb in Spanish.
The phonetic transcription using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) is /estroˈpe.aɾ.se/.
"Estropearse" means to become damaged, broken, or spoiled. It is commonly used to refer to objects that no longer function properly, food that has gone bad, or situations that have deteriorated.
In terms of usage frequency, "estropearse" is found in both oral and written contexts; however, it tends to be more prevalent in spoken Spanish, as it may describe everyday situations such as appliances breaking or food spoiling.
Mi teléfono se estropeó en el viaje.
My phone broke down during the trip.
La comida se estropeó porque no estaba en el refrigerador.
The food spoiled because it wasn't in the refrigerator.
El coche se estropea a menudo si no lo cuidamos bien.
The car often breaks down if we don't take good care of it.
While "estropearse" itself isn’t heavily featured in idiomatic expressions, it can combine with other terms to convey a message. Here are a few expressions related to the concept:
Estropearse la fiesta.
To ruin the party.
La lluvia estropeó la fiesta que habíamos planeado.
The rain ruined the party we had planned.
No dejar que se estropee.
To not let it go to waste.
Debemos usar esas verduras antes de que se estropeen.
We must use those vegetables before they go to waste.
Estropearse por el tiempo.
To spoil due to the weather.
El pan se estropea por el calor y la humedad.
The bread spoils because of the heat and humidity.
The verb "estropearse" comes from the Spanish noun "estropeo," which means damage or impairment. The root of this noun is derived from the Old Spanish "estropear," meaning to damage or impair. The prefix "es-" indicates a transformation or process, giving the idea of becoming compromised or damaged.
Synonyms:
1. Dañarse (to get harmed)
2. Romperse (to break)
3. Descomponerse (to decompose or break down)
Antonyms:
1. Arreglarse (to be repaired)
2. Conservarse (to be preserved)
3. Mejorarse (to improve)