How to Say "to misspend" in Spanish
The Spanish word for “to misspend” is “malgastar” — B1 level. This is a very common word in everyday Spanish.
Examples
No quiero malgastar mi dinero en cosas que no necesito.
I don't want to waste my money on things I don't need.
Estamos malgastando mucho tiempo con esta reunión.
We are wasting a lot of time with this meeting.
Es una pena malgastar tanto talento.
It's a shame to waste so much talent.
A Compound Word
This word is a combination of 'mal' (badly) and 'gastar' (to spend). It literally means to spend badly!
Direct Use
You don't need a preposition like 'on' before the thing you are wasting. Just say 'malgastar el tiempo' (waste the time).
Malgastar vs. Perder
Mistake: “Perdí mi dinero en esa tienda.”
Correction: Malgasté mi dinero en esa tienda. Use 'perder' for losing your keys, but use 'malgastar' for wasting your cash.
Related Translations
Learn Spanish with Inklingo
Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.