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.
Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Indicative
Preterite
Imperfect
Present
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✏️ 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!