derrota
/deh-RROH-tah/
defeat
When used as a noun, 'derrota' means defeat, like losing a competition.
derrota(noun)
defeat
?losing a contest or battle
,loss
?the state of being beaten
rout
?a crushing, overwhelming defeat
📝 In Action
La derrota en la final fue muy dolorosa para los aficionados.
A2The defeat in the final was very painful for the fans.
El general aceptó la derrota con dignidad.
B1The general accepted the loss with dignity.
Después de la derrota, el equipo tuvo que reorganizarse.
A2After the defeat, the team had to reorganize.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender Check
Remember that 'derrota' is always feminine, so you must use 'la derrota' or 'una derrota'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Expressing an Outcome
Use 'derrota' when describing the final outcome of a contest (like a game or election), rather than the general act of losing ('perder').
'Derrota' can be the third-person singular present tense of the verb 'to defeat,' meaning he or she defeats.
derrota(verb)
he/she defeats
?3rd person singular present tense
,you (formal) defeat
?Usted form present tense
it defeats
?when the subject is a thing or concept
📝 In Action
El campeón siempre derrota a sus oponentes.
B1The champion always defeats his opponents.
Si usted derrota al jefe, ganará el premio.
B1If you defeat the boss, you will win the prize.
💡 Grammar Points
Form Identification
The word 'derrota' itself is the 'él/ella/usted' form in the present tense (He/She/You defeats). Pay attention to the context to know if it's the noun or the verb.
⭐ Usage Tips
Using the Past
To talk about defeating someone in the past, you'll usually use the preterite: 'Lo derrotó' (He defeated him).
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: derrota
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'derrota' as a noun?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I tell if 'derrota' means 'defeat' (noun) or 'defeats' (verb)?
Look at the words around it! If it has 'la' or 'una' in front of it (La derrota), it's the noun. If it follows a subject like 'él,' 'ella,' or 'usted' (Él derrota), it is the verb form.
Is 'derrota' related to the word for 'route' or 'path'?
Yes, historically! It comes from the same root as the word for breaking a path or line. The military meaning of 'breaking the enemy's lines' is what gave us the modern meaning of 'defeat.'