Spanish word of the day: Chapuza
A very useful word that but be careful how you use it.
Why should I know this word?
You'll see this Spanish word used to describe a shoddy job, a shambles or a mess left behind whether it's a workman who cut a few corners in his repairs or your flatmate who didnt quite manage to follow the instructions properly when erecting some Ikea furniture.
The word has appeared in headlines this week to describe the botched restoration of a sculpture on the facade of a historic building in Palencia, Castilla y Leon.
For more about that story read this: Spain laughs (and groans) at yet another botched art restoration
Who can I use it with?
Chapuza is a word that should be used with extreme caution, as you could cause serious offense if you use it to refer to someone's work!
Show me some examples
Chapuza as an adjective can be used to refer to a “mess”, an “botched or shoddy job”, or "swindle or trick”. Here are some examples:
-
Todo lo que haces es una chapuza!
Everything you do is shoddy!
-
No podemos entregar esta chapuza.
We can't hand in this botched job.
-
El tío tenía muchas ganas de e hizo chapuza en el juego.
The guy really wanted to win and resorted to playing dirty tricks.
Who can I use it with?
Chapuza is a word that should be used with extreme caution, as you could cause serious offense if you use it to refer to someone's work!
What else should I know?
The verb chapuzar is to put your head under water or to go head first into water:
-
Chapuzó el plato en el fregadero
He dunked the plate in the sink
Pronunciation
cha-pu-tha
t∫apu'θaɾ
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Why should I know this word?
You'll see this Spanish word used to describe a shoddy job, a shambles or a mess left behind whether it's a workman who cut a few corners in his repairs or your flatmate who didnt quite manage to follow the instructions properly when erecting some Ikea furniture.
The word has appeared in headlines this week to describe the botched restoration of a sculpture on the facade of a historic building in Palencia, Castilla y Leon.
For more about that story read this: Spain laughs (and groans) at yet another botched art restoration
Who can I use it with?
Chapuza is a word that should be used with extreme caution, as you could cause serious offense if you use it to refer to someone's work!
Show me some examples
Chapuza as an adjective can be used to refer to a “mess”, an “botched or shoddy job”, or "swindle or trick”. Here are some examples:
- Todo lo que haces es una chapuza!
Everything you do is shoddy!
- No podemos entregar esta chapuza.
We can't hand in this botched job.
- El tío tenía muchas ganas de e hizo chapuza en el juego.
The guy really wanted to win and resorted to playing dirty tricks.
Who can I use it with?
Chapuza is a word that should be used with extreme caution, as you could cause serious offense if you use it to refer to someone's work!
What else should I know?
The verb chapuzar is to put your head under water or to go head first into water:
- Chapuzó el plato en el fregadero
He dunked the plate in the sink
Pronunciation
cha-pu-tha
t∫apu'θaɾ
READ ALSO:
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