contaminar
verb
1. to pollute + con
to damage the environment
Common combinations
- contaminar el aire — pollute the air
- contaminar el agua — pollute the water
- contaminar el suelo — pollute the soil
- Las fábricas contaminan el aire con humo.Factories pollute the air with smoke.
- El petróleo contaminó el mar.The oil polluted the sea.
- No debemos contaminar los ríos.We must not pollute rivers.
2. to contaminate, to taint + con
to make something impure or unsafe
Common combinations
- contaminar los alimentos — contaminate food
- contaminar el agua potable — contaminate drinking water
- contaminar una muestra — contaminate a sample
- No contamines la comida con las manos sucias.Do not contaminate the food with dirty hands.
- La bacteria contaminó el agua potable.The bacteria contaminated the drinking water.
- El vaso se contaminó con polvo.The glass was contaminated with dust.
3. to taint, to corrupt
to have a harmful influence on something
Common combinations
- contaminar el debate — taint the debate
- contaminar una decisión — taint a decision
- contaminar las palabras — taint one's words
- Los prejuicios contaminan el debate.Prejudices taint the debate.
- El miedo contaminó su decisión.Fear tainted his decision.
- No dejes que la rabia contamine tus palabras.Do not let anger taint your words.
Same root
contaminacióncontaminantecontaminarse