sprecare

to waste

verb spreh-KAH-reh Rare

Also means

to squander

Usage Note

Sprecare takes avere as auxiliary. It is used for wasting material things (sprecare acqua, sprecare denaro) and also abstract resources (sprecare tempo, sprecare un'occasione). The noun spreco (waste) is very common in environmental and economic discourse. Do not confuse with spregiare (to despise).

Examples

"Non sprecare l'acqua."

Natural Translation

Don't waste water.

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