Verb
/malɡasˈtaɾ/
The word "malgastar" means to waste or squander resources, particularly money or time, in a careless or inefficient manner. It is commonly used in discussions related to economics, budgeting, and resource management. "Malgastar" is a verb that can be used in both oral and written contexts, but it might be more prevalent in written forms such as articles, reports, and essays, especially when discussing economic issues.
Es un error malgastar tanto dinero en cosas innecesarias.
It is a mistake to waste so much money on unnecessary things.
Muchas empresas malgastan recursos en proyectos que no generan beneficios.
Many companies squander resources on projects that do not generate benefits.
No deberías malgastar tu tiempo en actividades que no te llevan a tus metas.
You shouldn't waste your time on activities that do not lead you to your goals.
The verb "malgastar" appears in various idiomatic expressions and discussions regarding inefficiency and carelessness with resources.
Malgastar la oportunidad
To waste the opportunity
No quiero malgastar la oportunidad que se me presenta.
I don't want to waste the opportunity that presents itself to me.
Malgastar el tiempo
To waste time
Es fácil malgastar el tiempo en redes sociales.
It's easy to waste time on social media.
Malgastar los recursos
To squander resources
Las malas decisiones pueden hacer que malgastemos los recursos de la empresa.
Bad decisions can lead us to squander the company's resources.
Malgastar el esfuerzo
To waste effort
No tengo ganas de malgastar el esfuerzo en algo que no vale la pena.
I don’t want to waste my effort on something that isn’t worth it.
No malgastes tu talento
Don't waste your talent
Me dijo que no malgaste mi talento en cosas irrelevantes.
He told me not to waste my talent on irrelevant things.
The word "malgastar" is composed of the prefix "mal-" signifying "bad" or "poorly" and the root "gastar," which means "to spend" or "to expend." This compound structure illustrates the concept of spending or using something in a poor or inefficient way.
In summary, "malgastar" is a versatile verb primarily used in contexts involving economic efficiency and resource management. Its idiomatic expressions reflect various scenarios where wastage occurs, emphasizing the importance of being prudent with resources.