exploto

Exploto is the first-person singular present indicative form of the Spanish verb explotar. The verb has two main senses: to explode (an object bursts) and to exploit (to use something, such as resources or people, for gain). As a result, explotar can be used transitively or intransitively depending on the meaning, and exploto specifically corresponds to “I explode” or “I exploit” in present tense. The preterite third-person form is explotó, with an accent on the final syllable, meaning “he/she exploded.”

Etymology and related forms: Explotar comes from the same Romance root that gives rise to English explosion and the noun explosión. Its development is influenced by related Romance verbs such as Italian esplodare and French explosER/exploser, all of which trace back to the sense of blowing apart or bursting. The usable senses in Spanish include both physical bursting and figurative, such as abundance or rapid growth.

Usage notes: In everyday Spanish, explotar is common in both literal and figurative contexts. Examples include: El cohete explota al entrar la atmósfera (the rocket explodes) or La demanda explotó tras el anuncio (demand boomed after the announcement). It also appears in discussions of resources or people, as in La empresa explota sus recursos, or Se explotó a los trabajadores, though the latter carries a negative connotation of unfair treatment.

See also: explotar, explosión, explosivo, explotación.