desmoronar
“desmoronar” means “to crumble” in Spanish (breaking something solid into small pieces or crumbs).
to crumble
Also: to erode, to undermine
📝 In Action
Ten cuidado al tocar la galleta o la vas a desmoronar.
A2Be careful when touching the cookie or you are going to crumble it.
La lluvia comenzó a desmoronar la orilla del río.
B1The rain began to erode the riverbank.
Sus mentiras terminaron por desmoronar la confianza de la familia.
B2His lies ended up undermining the family's trust.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: desmoronar
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence describes something falling apart on its own?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Spanish prefix 'des-' (indicating reversal or removal) combined with 'morón' (meaning a small mound or hill of earth). It literally describes the act of taking apart a mound of dirt bit by bit.
First recorded: 15th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'desmoronar' the same as 'destruir'?
Not exactly. 'Destruir' is a general word for 'to destroy.' 'Desmoronar' is more specific—it means to make something fall apart specifically into small pieces or crumbs.
Can I use it for a business that fails?
Yes! It is very common to say 'el imperio se desmoronó' (the empire collapsed) to describe a business or organization falling apart.
Is it a regular verb?
Yes, it follows the standard pattern for all verbs ending in -ar, so it's quite easy to conjugate!