espolvorea

Espolvorear, represented here by the form espolvorea in the present indicative, is a Spanish verb meaning to sprinkle or dust lightly with a fine powder. It is a transitive action typically applied to food, surfaces, or objects, and is commonly used in cooking and baking to distribute sugar, flour, cocoa, cinnamon, or powdered toppings over something. The term can also refer to dispersing small particles such as talc, spices, or cosmetic powders over a surface.

Etymology and usage notes: Espolvorear derives from polvo, meaning dust, with the typical verb-forming pattern of -ar verbs in Spanish. It emphasizes a light, even distribution of a powder across a target. In cooking, espolvorear is often contrasted with rociar (to spray or drop) and espolvoreado es the past participle used to describe the result, as in azúcar espolvoreada.

Conjugation and examples: The verb follows regular -ar conjugation patterns. In the present tense, examples include yo espolvoreo, tú espolvoreas, él espolvorea, nosotros espolvoreamos, vosotros espolvoreáis, ellos espolvorean. The preterite tense yields espolvoreé, espolvoreaste, espolvoreó, espolvoreamos, espolvoreasteis, espolvorearon. The past participle is espolvoreado. For example, one might say: El pastel quedó con azúcar espolvoreada. El chef espolvoreó canela sobre la crema.

See also: polvo, espolvoreado, espolvoreo.