How to Say "to corrupt" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “to corrupt” is “corromper” — use 'corromper' when you mean to make someone act dishonestly, often through bribery or offering illicit gains..
corromper
/ko-rrohm-PEHR//ko.romˈpeɾ/
Examples
El empresario intentó corromper al juez con una gran suma de dinero.
The businessman tried to bribe the judge with a large sum of money.
Muchos temen que el poder absoluto corrompa a los líderes.
Many fear that absolute power corrupts leaders.
Es fácil corromperse cuando no hay vigilancia.
It is easy to become corrupt when there is no supervision.
Using the reflexive 'se'
When someone becomes corrupt by their own choices or just 'changes' for the worse over time, use 'corromperse' (e.g., 'Él se corrompió').
Action vs. State
Use 'corrompido' for the action in a past tense (He has corrupted), but use 'corrupto' (adjective) to describe the person's character (He is corrupt).
The 'Corrupto' confusion
Mistake: “Él ha corrupto el sistema.”
Correction: Él ha corrompido el sistema. 'Corrupto' is for description, 'corrompido' is for the action.
envenenar
/en-be-ne-NAR//embenenˈaɾ/
Examples
Sus celos terminaron por envenenar la relación.
His jealousy ended up poisoning the relationship.
No dejes que el odio envenene tu corazón.
Don't let hatred embitter your heart.
Esos comentarios negativos envenenaron el ambiente de la oficina.
Those negative comments poisoned the office atmosphere.
Abstract Subjects
You can use feelings or words as the subject of this verb, such as 'La envidia envenena' (Envy poisons).
Corromper vs. Envenenar
Related Translations
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