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descalificar

des-kah-lee-fee-kar/deskalifiˈkaɾ/

“descalificar” means “to disqualify” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

to disqualify

Also: to declare ineligible
VerbB1spelling change ar
A referee in a striped shirt showing a red card to a soccer player on a green field.
gerunddescalificando
past Participledescalificado
infinitivedescalificar

📝 In Action

El árbitro decidió descalificar al corredor por una salida en falso.

B1

The referee decided to disqualify the runner for a false start.

Si no entregas los documentos a tiempo, te pueden descalificar del proceso.

B1

If you don't turn in the documents on time, they can disqualify you from the process.

Tres atletas fueron descalificados tras la prueba de dopaje.

B2

Three athletes were disqualified after the drug test.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • ser descalificado por dopaje – to be disqualified for doping
  • descalificar automáticamente – to disqualify automatically

to discredit

Also: to disparage, to run down
VerbB2spelling change ar
A thumb pointing down next to a silhouette of a person's head.
gerunddescalificando
past Participledescalificado
infinitivedescalificar

📝 In Action

No deberías descalificar sus ideas sin antes escucharlas.

B2

You shouldn't discredit her ideas without listening to them first.

El candidato intentó descalificar a su oponente con ataques personales.

C1

The candidate tried to disparage his opponent with personal attacks.

Es fácil descalificar el trabajo de otros desde la barrera.

B2

It's easy to run down others' work from the sidelines.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • desacreditar (to discredit)
  • menospreciar (to undervalue/belittle)

Antonyms

  • elogiar (to praise)
  • validar (to validate)

Common Collocations

  • descalificar un argumento – to discredit an argument
  • insultos para descalificar – insults to disparage

🔄 Conjugations

subjunctive

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesdescalificaran
yodescalificara
túdescalificaras
vosotrosdescalificarais
nosotrosdescalificáramos
él/ella/usteddescalificara

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesdescalifiquen
yodescalifique
túdescalifiques
vosotrosdescalifiquéis
nosotrosdescalifiquemos
él/ella/usteddescalifique

indicative

preterite

ellos/ellas/ustedesdescalificaron
yodescalifiqué
túdescalificaste
vosotrosdescalificasteis
nosotrosdescalificamos
él/ella/usteddescalificó

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesdescalificaban
yodescalificaba
túdescalificabas
vosotrosdescalificabais
nosotrosdescalificábamos
él/ella/usteddescalificaba

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesdescalifican
yodescalifico
túdescalificas
vosotrosdescalificáis
nosotrosdescalificamos
él/ella/usteddescalifica
View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "descalificar" in Spanish:

to discredit→to disparage→to disqualify→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: descalificar

Question 1 of 3

Which form of 'descalificar' is used in the 'yo' form of the past tense (Preterite)?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
descalificación(disqualification) — Noun
calificar(to qualify / to grade) — Verb
calificado(qualified) — Adjective
descalificador(disparaging / person who disqualifies) — Adjective
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Formed by adding the prefix 'des-' (meaning 'undo' or 'remove') to the verb 'calificar' (to qualify). 'Calificar' comes from the Latin 'qualis' (of what kind) and 'facere' (to make).

First recorded: 17th century

Cognates (Related words)

French: disqualifierEnglish: disqualify

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'descalificar' always a bad thing?

Usually, yes. In sports, it means you were kicked out for a rule violation. In conversation, it means you are dismissing someone's value or ideas unfairly.

What is the difference between 'criticar' and 'descalificar'?

To 'criticar' is just to give an opinion (good or bad). To 'descalificar' is more aggressive; it aims to prove that the person or idea is totally invalid or not worthy of being heard.

Does the spelling change happen in all tenses?

No, only when the ending starts with an 'e'. This happens in the 'yo' form of the past (Preterite) and in all forms of the Subjunctive.