How to Say "i waste" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “i waste” is “desperdicio” — use this word when you are talking about the act of using a resource like water, food, or money inefficiently or to excess.
English → Spanish
desperdicio
des-pair-DEE-syohdespeɾˈdisjo
verbB1general
Use this word when you are talking about the act of using a resource like water, food, or money inefficiently or to excess.
Examples
Yo nunca desperdicio el agua.
I never waste water.
Si no estudio, desperdicio mi oportunidad.
If I don't study, I waste my opportunity.
The 'O' Ending
When you see 'desperdicio' ending in 'o', it means 'I waste'. If it were just the noun 'waste', it would usually follow a word like 'el' or 'un'.
pierdo
pyehr-dohˈpjeɾðo
verbB1general
This translation is best when referring to wasting abstract things like time or effort, often due to a lack of organization or a bad strategy.
Examples
Si no hay un plan, pierdo demasiado tiempo pensando.
If there is no plan, I waste too much time thinking.
No pierdo dinero en cosas que no necesito.
I don't waste money on things I don't need.
Desperdicio vs. Pierdo
The most common mistake is using 'desperdicio' for time or effort. Remember that 'desperdicio' is for tangible resources, while 'pierdo' is for intangible things like time and energy.
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