farsa
/FAR-sah/
sham
When something is a 'farsa' (sham), it is an insincere pretense or act.
farsa(noun)
sham
?a pretense or insincere act
,mockery
?a ridiculous imitation or failure
farce
?a ridiculous event
,charade
?an elaborate pretense
📝 In Action
La votación fue una farsa; los resultados ya estaban decididos de antemano.
B2The vote was a sham; the results were already decided beforehand.
No podemos permitir que este juicio se convierta en una farsa.
C1We cannot allow this trial to turn into a mockery.
Dejó la reunión porque dijo que todo era una farsa sin sentido.
B2She left the meeting because she said the whole thing was a senseless farce.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender Reminder
Even though 'farsa' ends in '-a', remember that it is always a feminine noun, so you must use 'la farsa' or 'una farsa'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing with 'False'
Mistake: "Using 'farsa' to mean 'false' or 'untrue' in a general sense."
Correction: Use 'falso' (adjective) or 'mentira' (noun for lie). 'Farsa' specifically means a ridiculous or insincere situation or event.
⭐ Usage Tips
Expressing Disappointment
This word is strong and expresses deep disappointment or cynicism about an event or process that lacked seriousness.
A 'farsa' can also refer to a theatrical genre characterized by broad humor and physical comedy.
📝 In Action
El director eligió montar una farsa medieval para la temporada de verano.
C1The director chose to stage a medieval farce for the summer season.
La farsa se caracteriza por el humor exagerado y las situaciones inverosímiles.
C1The farce is characterized by exaggerated humor and implausible situations.
⭐ Usage Tips
Figurative Connection
The reason the first meaning (sham/mockery) exists is because theatrical farces are often so absurd and ridiculous that the word became a way to describe real-life situations that are equally unbelievable.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: farsa
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'farsa' in its figurative meaning (sham/mockery)?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
¿Es 'farsa' una palabra formal o informal?
'Farsa' es una palabra neutra. Se usa en contextos serios (como noticias o política) para criticar una situación, pero también se puede usar en conversación diaria para describir algo ridículo.
If I want to say 'It was false,' should I use 'farsa'?
No. 'Farsa' is a noun describing a situation or event that is ridiculous or a pretense. To say 'It was false,' you should use the adjective 'falso' (Fue falso) or the noun 'mentira' (Fue una mentira).