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derrocar

deh-rroh-KAHRderroˈkar

to overthrow

Also: to oust, to topple
VerbB2regular with spelling changes ar
A golden crown lying on the ground next to a heavy stone throne.
gerundderrocando
past Participlederrocado
infinitivederrocar

📝 In Action

El pueblo se unió para derrocar al dictador.

B1

The people united to overthrow the dictator.

Fue un plan arriesgado para derrocar el gobierno actual.

B2

It was a risky plan to overthrow the current government.

Lograron derrocar al régimen tras meses de protestas.

C1

They managed to oust the regime after months of protests.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • destituir (to dismiss/remove)
  • deponer (to depose)

Antonyms

  • instaurar (to establish/set up)
  • mantener (to maintain/keep)

Common Collocations

  • derrocar un sistema – to overthrow a system
  • intentar derrocar – to try to overthrow

to unseat

Also: to knock off
VerbC1regular with spelling changes ar
A new blue bird perched on a high branch while a yellow bird flies away.
gerundderrocando
past Participlederrocado
infinitivederrocar

📝 In Action

Nadie ha podido derrocar al campeón de ajedrez.

B2

No one has been able to unseat the chess champion.

La nueva empresa busca derrocar al líder del mercado.

C1

The new company seeks to topple the market leader.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • destronar (to dethrone)

Antonyms

  • coronar (to crown)

Common Collocations

  • derrocar al campeón – to unseat the champion

Subjunctive

Imperfect Subjunctive

yoderrocara
túderrocaras
él/ella/ustedderrocara
nosotrosderrocáramos
vosotrosderrocarais
ellos/ellas/ustedesderrocaran

Present Subjunctive

yoderroque
túderroques
él/ella/ustedderroque
nosotrosderroquemos
vosotrosderroquéis
ellos/ellas/ustedesderroquen

Indicative

Preterite

yoderroqué
túderrocaste
él/ella/ustedderrocó
nosotrosderrocamos
vosotrosderrocasteis
ellos/ellas/ustedesderrocaron

Imperfect

yoderrocaba
túderrocabas
él/ella/ustedderrocaba
nosotrosderrocábamos
vosotrosderrocabais
ellos/ellas/ustedesderrocaban

Present

yoderroco
túderrocas
él/ella/ustedderroca
nosotrosderrocamos
vosotrosderrocáis
ellos/ellas/ustedesderrocan
View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "derrocar" in Spanish:

to oust→to overthrow→to topple→to unseat→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: derrocar

Question 1 of 3

Which of these is the correct 'I' form in the past tense?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
derrocamiento(overthrow (noun)) — Noun
derrocable(overthrowable) — Adjective
roca(rock) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the prefix 'de-' (meaning down from) and the word 'roca' (rock). It originally meant to throw someone down from a high rocky place, like a castle or a cliff.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: derrocar

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'derrocar' and 'derrotar'?

'Derrotar' means to win a battle or a game. 'Derrocar' means to actually remove someone from their seat of power or office.

Why is it 'derroqué' instead of 'derrocé'?

Spanish spelling rules require 'qu' to keep the hard 'K' sound. If you wrote 'derrocé', it would sound like 'derro-SAY'.

Is 'derrocar' used in everyday conversation?

Not really. It's mostly found in news reports about politics, history lessons, or dramatic sports commentary.