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desbordar

des-bor-dar/dezβoɾˈðaɾ/

“desbordar” means “to overflow” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

to overflow

Also: to spill over
VerbA2regular ar
A blue ceramic mug on a table with water spilling over the edges.
gerunddesbordando
past Participledesbordado
infinitivedesbordar

📝 In Action

El río se desbordó después de la tormenta.

A2

The river overflowed after the storm.

Ten cuidado con el café, se va a desbordar.

A1

Be careful with the coffee, it's going to spill over.

El agua empezó a desbordar por los bordes de la piscina.

B1

The water began to overflow over the edges of the pool.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • rebosar (to brim over)
  • derramar (to spill)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • desbordar el vaso – to make the glass overflow
  • se desborda el río – the river overflows

Idioms & Expressions

  • la gota que colmó el vaso – The last straw (related to overflowing)

to overflow with, to exceed

Also: to be overwhelmed
VerbB2regular ar
A happy child with a wide smile and bright sparkling eyes, throwing their arms up in joy.
gerunddesbordando
past Participledesbordado
infinitivedesbordar

📝 In Action

Ella desborda alegría cada vez que nos ve.

B2

She overflows with joy every time she sees us.

La situación desbordó a los organizadores del evento.

C1

The situation overwhelmed the event organizers.

Su talento desbordó todas nuestras expectativas.

B2

His talent exceeded all of our expectations.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • desbordar alegría – to overflow with joy
  • desbordar pasión – to exude passion
  • sentirse desbordado – to feel overwhelmed

🔄 Conjugations

subjunctive

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesdesbordaran
yodesbordara
túdesbordaras
vosotrosdesbordarais
nosotrosdesbordáramos
él/ella/usteddesbordara

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesdesborden
yodesborde
túdesbordes
vosotrosdesbordéis
nosotrosdesbordemos
él/ella/usteddesborde

indicative

preterite

ellos/ellas/ustedesdesbordaron
yodesbordé
túdesbordaste
vosotrosdesbordasteis
nosotrosdesbordamos
él/ella/usteddesbordó

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesdesbordaban
yodesbordaba
túdesbordabas
vosotrosdesbordabais
nosotrosdesbordábamos
él/ella/usteddesbordaba

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesdesbordan
yodesbordo
túdesbordas
vosotrosdesbordáis
nosotrosdesbordamos
él/ella/usteddesborda
View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "desbordar" in Spanish:

to exceed→to overflow→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: desbordar

Question 1 of 3

Which sentence means 'The situation was too much for me to handle'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
borde(edge/rim) — Noun
desbordamiento(overflow/flooding) — Noun
bordear(to skirt/go around the edge) — Verb
desbordante(overflowing/overwhelming) — Adjective
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the Spanish prefix 'des-' (meaning out or away) and 'borde' (edge/rim), which comes from the Frankish 'bord' (side of a ship).

First recorded: 15th century

Cognates (Related words)

French: déborderEnglish: disembark (distantly related via 'board')

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use 'desbordar' for people?

Yes, but usually as the thing being acted upon ('La tarea me desborda' - The task overwhelms me) or to describe their personality ('Él desborda energía' - He overflows with energy).

Is it 'desbordar' or 'desbordarse'?

Both! Use 'desbordarse' (reflexive) for things that happen on their own like rivers flooding. Use 'desbordar' when you are describing a quality something has (like a person exuding talent).

Is it a common word?

Very common, especially in news reports about weather (floods) or in sports and arts to describe passion and talent.