Degradarlos

Degradarlos is a Spanish verb phrase formed by the verb degradar (to degrade) combined with the clitic object pronoun los, which refers to a masculine or mixed-gender group. The phrase literally means “to degrade them” and is used when the action of degrading is directed at those people. The base form is degradar; when a pronoun is attached to an infinitive, the result is degradarlos. This construction also appears with other verb forms, for example voy a degradarlos (I am going to degrade them) or no los degradéis (do not degrade them, vosotros imperative in Spain).

Linguistic notes and grammar: the pronoun los is a direct object and attaches to the end of an infinitive or present participle to create degradarlos or degradándolos. It agrees in gender and number with the entity being referred to (los for masculine or mixed groups, las for feminine groups). Other related forms include degradándolo or degradándolos in different tenses, and imperative forms such as degradadlos in the affirmative tú/vosotros commands, with regional variations in usage and accentuation.

Usage and semantics: degradar can refer to lowering dignity, value, or status, as well as diminishing quality or integrity. When applied to people, degradarlos often carries strong negative connotations, implying humiliation or denigration. In broader contexts, degradar can describe environmental or material deterioration, though degradarlos would then refer to a group affected by the degradation rather than the degradation itself.

See also: degradación, dignidad, humillación, denigrar, menospreciar.