destapar

de-stah-par/des.ta.ˈpaɾ/

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

to uncover🔊A2Verb

removing a lid or cover

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to reveal🔊B2Verb

bringing a secret or truth to light

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to uncover

Also: to uncork or open

VerbA2regular ar

A hand lifting a bright red lid off a white cooking pot, revealing steam rising from inside.

gerunddestapando

past Participledestapado

infinitivedestapar

📝 In Action

Por favor, destapa la botella de agua.

Please, open (uncover) the water bottle.

No puedo destapar este frasco; está muy apretado.

I can't get the lid off this jar; it's very tight.

El viento destapó la caja que estaba en el jardín.

The wind uncovered the box that was in the garden.

Word Connections

Synonyms

abrir (to open)
descubrir (to uncover/discover)

Antonyms

tapar (to cover)
cubrir (to cover)

Common Collocations

destapar una botella – to open/uncork a bottle
destapar un frasco – to open a jar

to reveal

Also: to expose

VerbB2regular ar

A hand pulling back a heavy velvet curtain to reveal a hidden glowing golden treasure chest.

gerunddestapando

past Participledestapado

infinitivedestapar

📝 In Action

La investigación destapó un caso de corrupción.

The investigation revealed/exposed a case of corruption.

Finalmente destaparon sus verdaderas intenciones.

They finally revealed their true intentions.

Word Connections

Synonyms

revelar (to reveal)
denunciar (to report/expose)

Antonyms

ocultar (to hide)
encubrir (to cover up)

Common Collocations

destapar un escándalo – to expose a scandal
destapar la verdad – to reveal the truth

Idioms & Expressions

destapar la caja de los truenos – To open a can of worms; to cause a series of problems by revealing something.

🔄 Conjugations

subjunctive

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesdestaparan

yodestapara

túdestaparas

vosotrosdestaparais

nosotrosdestapáramos

él/ella/usteddestapara

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesdestapen

yodestape

túdestapes

vosotrosdestapéis

nosotrosdestapemos

él/ella/usteddestape

indicative

preterite

ellos/ellas/ustedesdestaparon

yodestapé

túdestapaste

vosotrosdestapasteis

nosotrosdestapamos

él/ella/usteddestapó

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesdestapaban

yodestapaba

túdestapabas

vosotrosdestapabais

nosotrosdestapábamos

él/ella/usteddestapaba

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesdestapan

yodestapo

túdestapas

vosotrosdestapáis

nosotrosdestapamos

él/ella/usteddestapa

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Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "destapar" in Spanish:

to expose→to reveal→to uncover→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: destapar

Question 1 of 3

Which sentence means 'The journalist revealed the truth'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼

tapa(lid / snack) — Noun

tapar(to cover) — Verb

destapador(bottle opener) — Noun

tapón(stopper / cork) — Noun

🎵 Rhymes▼

hablar llegar mar

📚 Etymology▼

From the Spanish prefix 'des-' (meaning 'un-' or 'removal') and the word 'tapa' (meaning lid or cover), which comes from Germanic origins.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: destapar

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use 'destapar' for a door?

No. For doors and windows, you should use 'abrir'. Use 'destapar' for things that have a lid, cap, or are covered by a cloth/blanket.

Is 'destapar' regular in the past tense?

Yes, it is a completely regular -ar verb in all its forms, including the preterite (past) tense.

What's the difference between 'descubrir' and 'destapar'?

'Descubrir' is 'to discover' (like finding a new land or a new concept), while 'destapar' is more about removing a physical cover or exposing a hidden secret.