derrotar
/deh-rroh-TAHR/
to defeat
The small bird succeeds in defeating its much larger opponent.
derrotar(verb)
to defeat
?overcoming an opponent
to beat
?winning against someone
,to vanquish
?formal or literary contexts
📝 In Action
Nuestro equipo derrotó al campeón el año pasado.
B1Our team defeated the champion last year.
El ajedrecista derrotó a su oponente en solo diez movimientos.
B2The chess player beat his opponent in only ten moves.
💡 Grammar Points
The 'Personal A'
When you use this word to talk about defeating a specific person or a group of people, you must use the word 'a' before them. Example: 'Derrotaron a los gigantes'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Ganar vs. Derrotar
Mistake: "Using 'ganar' when referring to the person you beat."
Correction: Say 'Derroté a mi hermano' (I defeated my brother) instead of 'Gané a mi hermano'. You 'ganar' (win) a trophy or a game, but you 'derrotar' (defeat) an opponent.
⭐ Usage Tips
Sports Talk
In sports news, you'll often see 'derrotar' used to describe a clear victory, while 'vencer' is used for any kind of win.
A person manages to overcome their internal struggles and find happiness.
derrotar(verb)
to overcome
?conquering internal struggles
to conquer
?dealing with fears or bad habits
📝 In Action
Tienes que derrotar tus miedos para seguir adelante.
B2You have to overcome your fears to move forward.
Finalmente, él derrotó su adicción al tabaco.
C1Finally, he conquered his addiction to tobacco.
⭐ Usage Tips
Figurative Language
Using 'derrotar' for feelings makes your Spanish sound very strong and determined, as if you are in a battle with your own emotions.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
present
imperfect
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: derrotar
Question 1 of 1
Which of these is the correct way to say 'I defeated my friend'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'vencer' and 'derrotar'?
They are very similar! 'Vencer' is more general and can mean to win a race or a war. 'Derrotar' is more specifically about the act of beating an opponent directly.
Is 'derrotar' always a regular verb?
Yes! It follows the standard pattern for all verbs ending in -ar, making it easy to conjugate.