malgastar
“malgastar” means “to waste” in Spanish (misusing resources like time or money).
to waste
Also: to squander, to misspend
📝 In Action
No quiero malgastar mi dinero en cosas que no necesito.
A2I don't want to waste my money on things I don't need.
Estamos malgastando mucho tiempo con esta reunión.
B1We are wasting a lot of time with this meeting.
Es una pena malgastar tanto talento.
B2It's a shame to waste so much talent.
Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Indicative
Preterite
Imperfect
Present
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: malgastar
Question 1 of 3
Which of these is the most common use of 'malgastar'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Spanish prefix 'mal-' (badly, from Latin 'male') combined with the verb 'gastar' (to spend, from Latin 'vastare' meaning to devastate or empty).
First recorded: 16th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use 'malgastar' for food?
Yes! If you throw away food that is still good, you can say 'malgastar la comida', though 'desperdiciar' is also very common for food.
Is 'malgastar' a formal word?
It is neutral. You can use it with friends or in a business report about budget issues.
What is the difference between 'gastar' and 'malgastar'?
'Gastar' is simply the act of spending. 'Malgastar' implies that the spending was a bad idea or a waste.