Inklingo

How to Say "rotten" in Spanish

English → Spanish

apestoso

ah-peh-STOH-sohapesˈtoso

adjectiveB1general
Use 'apestoso' when 'rotten' describes something unpleasant, unfair, or of poor quality, often referring to a situation or experience.
A sad person holding a broken, limp umbrella while standing in a puddle.

Examples

Tuve un día apestoso en el trabajo.

I had a rotten day at work.

¡Qué suerte apestosa tenemos!

What rotten luck we have!

Ese es un trato apestoso y no lo acepto.

That is a crappy deal and I don't accept it.

Figurative Language

Just like in English when we say something 'stinks' to mean it's bad, Spanish uses 'apestoso' to describe things that are unpleasant even if they don't actually have a smell.

Overusing in Formal Settings

Mistake: “Using 'apestoso' in a business meeting to describe a report.”

Correction: Use 'deficiente' or 'malo' instead. 'Apestoso' is too informal for work.

estropeado

es-tro-peh-AH-dohestɾopeˈaðo

adjectiveB1general
Use 'estropeado' when 'rotten' refers to organic matter, like food, that has spoiled and is no longer good to consume.
A bowl of fruit with a very brown, mushy banana and a shriveled apple.

Examples

No bebas esa leche, parece que está estropeada.

Don't drink that milk; it looks like it's rotten.

El calor ha estropeado toda la fruta del frutero.

The heat has spoiled all the fruit in the bowl.

Apestoso vs. Estropeado

The most common mistake is using 'apestoso' for spoiled food. Remember, 'apestoso' implies something is unpleasant or unfair, while 'estropeado' specifically means spoiled or ruined, especially for food.

Related Translations

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