perjudica

Perjudica is the third-person singular present indicative form of the Spanish verb perjudicar, meaning to cause damage, harm, or disadvantage to someone or something. It is used to describe actions, policies, events, or conditions that negatively affect people, groups, or interests. For example: la mala gestión perjudica a la empresa; el humo perjudica la salud. It is typically transitive and used with a direct object, and when specifying the affected party, with the preposition a: perjudicar a los trabajadores.

Conjugation and forms: as a regular -ar verb, its present tense endings are: perjudico, perjudicas, perjudica, perjudicamos, perjudicáis, perjudican. The participle is "perjudicado" and the gerund "perjudicando." Passive or impersonal constructions can be formed with se: se perjudica a los ciudadanos, o se ve que se perjudica la economía.

Etymology and related terms: the verb derives from Latin præjudicare, meaning to injure or prejudice. The related noun "perjuicio" denotes damage or harm, while "prejuicio" (with an i) refers to a bias or preconceived notion. These terms share a common idea of negative impact on rights, interests, or perceptions.

Usage notes: perjudica is a neutral, formal term suitable for health, economic, environmental, legal, and policy contexts. It commonly appears in analyses of consequences or impacts, without expressing moral judgment by itself. Synonyms in many contexts include dañar, perjudicar, and lastimar, though each carries slightly different nuance.