How to Say "defeat" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “defeat” is “derrota” — use 'derrota' when you want to talk about the noun 'defeat' itself, meaning the loss of a contest, battle, or competition..
derrota
/deh-RROH-tah//deˈro.ta/
Examples
La derrota en la final fue muy dolorosa para los aficionados.
The defeat in the final was very painful for the fans.
El general aceptó la derrota con dignidad.
The general accepted the loss with dignity.
Después de la derrota, el equipo tuvo que reorganizarse.
After the defeat, the team had to reorganize.
Gender Check
Remember that 'derrota' is always feminine, so you must use 'la derrota' or 'una derrota'.
vencer
ven-SER/benˈθeɾ/
Examples
El equipo logró vencer a su rival en la final.
The team managed to defeat their rival in the final.
Debemos vencer el miedo para alcanzar nuestros sueños.
We must overcome fear to achieve our dreams.
Ella ha vencido muchos obstáculos en su vida.
She has overcome many obstacles in her life.
Spelling Change for Sound
In forms where the 'c' meets an 'a' or 'o' (like 'yo' present, or all present subjunctive forms), the 'c' changes to 'z' (venzo, venza) to keep the 'th' or 's' sound consistent, rather than a hard 'k' sound.
Missing the 'z' change
Mistake: “Using 'venco' instead of 'venzo' for the 'yo' form.”
Correction: Always remember the 'c' changes to 'z' before 'o' and 'a' to maintain the correct pronunciation: 'Yo venzo' (I defeat).
Noun vs. Verb Confusion
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