Pudrir

Pudrir is a verb found in both Spanish and Portuguese that denotes rot, decay, or deterioration of organic matter. In everyday use, it describes something that is decomposing or spoiled, most commonly food. It can also be employed in a figurative sense to indicate the deterioration of non-physical things such as situations, relationships, or morals.

Etymology and related terms

The term derives from older Romance forms rooted in Latin expressions for rot and decay, related to the general idea of putrefaction. In both languages, pudrir is the productive verb used to express the process of decay and its various manifestations, from the literal decay of fruit to metaphorical decline.

Spanish usage

In Spanish, pudrir is used to describe food spoiling in conditions that promote decomposition, such as heat or moisture. It appears in expressions like “La fruta se pudre” (The fruit rots). Beyond the physical sense, pudrir can be used figuratively to indicate deterioration of patience, plans, or moral tone, as in phrases that imply something is becoming corrupted or spoiled over time.

Portuguese usage

In Portuguese, pudrir conveys similar meanings: a substance or organism decaying, or a process of deterioration. It is used for literal spoilage of food as well as for metaphorical decay in contexts such as relationships, institutions, or circumstances. The word participates in common idiomatic constructions that express decline or corruption.

See also

Rot and decay; putrefaction; decay in food; figurative language for moral or social decline.