menospreciar
“menospreciar” means “to undervalue” in Spanish (not giving enough credit or worth to something).
to undervalue
Also: to look down on, to underestimate
📝 In Action
No debes menospreciar el trabajo de los demás.
B1You shouldn't undervalue the work of others.
Menospreciaron la fuerza del equipo rival y perdieron el partido.
B2They underestimated the strength of the rival team and lost the game.
Ella se siente menospreciada por su jefe.
C1She feels looked down on by her boss.
Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Indicative
Preterite
Imperfect
Present
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: menospreciar
Question 1 of 3
If you 'menosprecias' a risk, what are you doing?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Spanish words 'menos' (less) and 'preciar' (to prize or value), which comes from the Latin word 'pretium' (price).
First recorded: 15th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'menospreciar' and 'despreciar'?
'Menospreciar' is about undervaluing or underestimating something's worth. 'Despreciar' is stronger and usually means to despise or feel total contempt for something.
Is 'menospreciar' a regular verb?
Yes! It follows the standard pattern for all verbs ending in -ar.
Can I use it for objects as well as people?
Absolutely. You can undervalue a person's feelings, a physical object's price, or the difficulty of a challenge.