Adjective, noun
/impeɾˈfekto/
In Spanish, "imperfecto" can refer to something that is not perfect, flawed, or incomplete. In grammatical terms, it denotes the imperfect tense — a past tense that describes actions that were ongoing, habitual, or not completed in the past. The imperfect tense is often used to set the scene in a narrative, describe background situations, or express feelings and thoughts that occurred in the past.
The term "imperfecto" is frequently used in both oral and written contexts, especially in educational settings, literature, and conversational dialogues.
The imperfect tense is used to describe habitual actions in the past.
Encontré un defecto en el diseño que lo hacía imperfecto.
I found a flaw in the design that made it imperfect.
En mi clase de español, aprendemos a conjugar verbos en el imperfecto.
"Imperfecto" is not commonly used in idiomatic expressions in Spanish, but here are a few creative uses and phrases that incorporate the concept of imperfection or relate to the grammatical aspect of "imperfecto".
That work of art is perfect in its imperfection.
No hay nada más humano que ser imperfecto.
There is nothing more human than being imperfect.
El amor es bello en su imperfecto.
Love is beautiful in its imperfect state.
Aceptar lo imperfecto es parte del crecimiento personal.
Accepting the imperfect is part of personal growth.
La vida no es una obra maestra, es un imperfecto cuadro.
The word "imperfecto" comes from the Latin "imperfectus," which means "not thoroughly done" or "unfinished." The prefix "im-" indicates negation, while "perfectus" derives from "perficere," meaning "to accomplish" or "to finish."