Inklingo

fracasar

fra-ka-SARfɾakaˈsaɾ

fracasar means to fail in Spanish (not achieving a goal).

to fail

Also: to be unsuccessful, to crash/burn
VerbB1regular ar
General
A colorful storybook illustration of a child looking at a fallen, broken paper airplane on the ground.
gerundfracasando
past Participlefracasado
infinitivefracasar

📝 In Action

El negocio fracasó porque no tenían clientes.

A2

The business failed because they didn't have customers.

Si no estudias, vas a fracasar en el examen.

B1

If you don't study, you are going to fail the exam.

Muchos emprendedores fracasan antes de tener éxito.

B2

Many entrepreneurs fail before having success.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • fracasar estrepitosamenteto fail miserably
  • fracasar en el intentoto fail in the attempt

Idioms & Expressions

  • estar condenado al fracasodestined to fail

Subjunctive

Imperfect Subjunctive

yofracasara
fracasaras
él/ella/ustedfracasara
nosotrosfracasáramos
vosotrosfracasarais
ellos/ellas/ustedesfracasaran

Present Subjunctive

yofracase
fracases
él/ella/ustedfracase
nosotrosfracasemos
vosotrosfracaséis
ellos/ellas/ustedesfracasen

Indicative

Preterite

yofracasé
fracasaste
él/ella/ustedfracasó
nosotrosfracasamos
vosotrosfracasasteis
ellos/ellas/ustedesfracasaron

Imperfect

yofracasaba
fracasabas
él/ella/ustedfracasaba
nosotrosfracasábamos
vosotrosfracasabais
ellos/ellas/ustedesfracasaban

Present

yofracaso
fracasas
él/ella/ustedfracasa
nosotrosfracasamos
vosotrosfracasáis
ellos/ellas/ustedesfracasan

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "fracasar" in Spanish:

to fail

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: fracasar

Question 1 of 3

How do you say 'I fail' in Spanish?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family
🎵 Rhymes
📚 Etymology

From the Italian word 'fracassare,' which means to break into pieces or shatter.

First recorded: 16th century

Cognates (Related words)

Italian: fracassare

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use 'fracasar' for failing a test?

Yes, but 'suspender' is more common in Spain for school grades, while 'reprobar' is more common in Latin America.

Is 'fracasar' a regular verb?

Yes, it follows the normal rules for all -ar verbs.

Does it mean the same as 'fallar'?

Mostly, but 'fallar' is used more for specific errors or machines breaking, while 'fracasar' is for big goals not being met.