colapsar
“colapsar” means “to collapse” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to collapse
Also: to cave in, to break down
📝 In Action
El viejo puente colapsó después de la tormenta.
B1The old bridge collapsed after the storm.
El atleta colapsó debido al calor extremo.
B2The athlete collapsed due to the extreme heat.
Si pones más peso, el techo va a colapsar.
B1If you put more weight, the roof is going to cave in.
to fail/crash
Also: to grind to a halt, to clog up
📝 In Action
La economía del país colapsó en 2008.
B2The country's economy collapsed in 2008.
El tráfico colapsó la ciudad entera esta mañana.
B2The traffic caused the whole city to grind to a halt this morning.
Demasiadas visitas hicieron colapsar el servidor.
C1Too many visits caused the server to crash.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "colapsar" in Spanish:
to collapse→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: colapsar
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence describes a physical structure failing?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin 'collapsus', which describes the act of falling together or shrinking down.
First recorded: 19th century (modern technical usage)
Cognates (Related words)
💡 Master Spanish
Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'colapsar' only for buildings?
No! You can use it for buildings, but also for computers (crashing), economies (failing), traffic (stopping), and even health (fainting from stress).
Is it a regular verb?
Yes, it follows the exact same pattern as 'hablar' or 'cantar' in every tense.
Can I use 'colapsar' to say I'm very tired?
Usually, you would say 'colapsar de cansancio' or 'estar a punto de colapsar' to emphasize extreme exhaustion.