Spanish Conversation · Level 6
89 words
Spanish word
fracaso
Pronunciation
IPA/fɾaˈkaso/
Meaning
- masculine nounfailure
Example
Después de un fracaso, me levanté y seguí adelante.
After a failure, I got back up and moved on.
More examples
El miedo al fracaso me impidió intentar cosas nuevas.
Fear of failure prevented me from trying new things.
Core concept
A ruined project with scattered papers.
Common phrases
temor al fracaso
fear of failure
evitar el fracaso
avoid failure
fracaso escolar
academic failure
Similar words
fallo: A specific malfunction or breakdown in a process or component that prevents expected results.
error: A mistake in action or judgment that produces an incorrect or unintended outcome.
contratiempo: An unexpected setback or hiccup that temporarily disrupts plans or progress.
revés: A disappointing setback that reverses progress and forces plans to be reconsidered.
Definition in Spanish
Resultado no deseado o no exitoso de una acción, proyecto o intento.
Word origin
From Latin frangere 'to break' via Italian fracasso 'a crash', Spanish fracaso developed to name an outcome in which a plan or attempt breaks down.
Usage tips
- 'Fue un fracaso' sounds blunt in conversation, so speakers often say 'no salió bien' or 'tuvimos un tropiezo' to soften the report of a setback.