bancarrota

ban-ka-RO-tah/baŋkaˈrota/

“bancarrota” means “bankruptcy” in Spanish (financial state of a person or business).

bankruptcy

Also: ruin

NounfB1

General

An empty, weathered leather wallet lying open on a plain wooden table with no money inside.

📝 In Action

Mi empresa está en bancarrota.

My company is in bankruptcy.

Él se declaró en bancarrota después de perder su trabajo.

He declared bankruptcy after losing his job.

La mala gestión llevó al club a la bancarrota total.

Bad management led the club to total bankruptcy.

Word Connections

Synonyms

quiebra (failure/bankruptcy)
ruina (ruin)

Antonyms

solvencia (solvency (having money))
prosperidad (prosperity)

Common Collocations

declararse en bancarrota – to declare bankruptcy
al borde de la bancarrota – on the verge of bankruptcy
caer en bancarrota – to fall into bankruptcy

Idioms & Expressions

estar en la quiebra – to be completely broke

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "bancarrota" in Spanish:

bankruptcy→ruin→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: bancarrota

Question 1 of 3

How do you say 'The company declared bankruptcy' in Spanish?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼

banco(bank) — Noun

banquero(banker) — Noun

banquillo(bench) — Noun

🎵 Rhymes▼

derrota pelota idiota

📚 Etymology▼

From the Italian 'banca rotta,' meaning 'broken bench.' In early banking in Italy, money lenders worked on benches in public places. If a lender ran out of money and could not pay his debts, his bench was literally broken to show he was out of business.

First recorded: 16th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: bankruptcyFrench: banqueroute

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'bancarrota' the same as being 'broke'?

Technically yes, but 'bancarrota' is more formal and usually refers to a legal or official financial status. If you just have no money for coffee, you wouldn't usually use this word.

Can I use 'bancarrota' for a person?

Yes, you can say 'Él está en bancarrota' (He is bankrupt), though it sounds quite serious and formal.

What is the difference between 'quiebra' and 'bancarrota'?

They are mostly interchangeable. 'Quiebra' is more common in technical legal documents in many countries, while 'bancarrota' is a very common general term.