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"Breakdown" is a noun which is often translated as "la avería", and "failure" is a noun which is often translated as "el fracaso". Learn more about the difference between "breakdown" and "failure" below.
breakdown(
breyk
-
daun
)A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
1. (failure)
b. la falla (F) (Latin America)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
Train service was suspended due to an electrical breakdown.Se suspendió el servicio del ferrocarril por una falla eléctrica.
d. la descompostura (F) (Mexico)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Regionalism used in Mexico
A bus breakdown closed two lanes on the bridge on Sunday afternoon.La descompostura de un camión provocó el cierre de dos carriles del puente el domingo por la tarde.
a. la crisis nerviosa (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
I think I'm going to have a breakdown. I only have one day to go before I defend my thesis.Creo que voy a tener una crisis nerviosa. Solo falta un día para la defensa de mi tesis.
b. el colapso nervioso (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Renata had a breakdown when she realized that she wouldn't fit into her wedding gown.Renata sufrió un colapso nervioso cuando se dio cuenta de que no le iba a quedar el vestido de bodas.
a. la ruptura (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
A breakdown in talks between Athens and its creditors plunged the country deep into crisis.La ruptura de las conversaciones entre Atenas y sus acreedores hundió al país en una profunda crisis.
b. el fracaso (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
There was a breakdown in negotiations when the parties failed to agree on the price.Hubo un fracaso en las negociaciones cuando las partes no lograron ponerse de acuerdo en el precio.
4. (analysis)
a. el desglose (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
The accountant presented the breakdown of expenses by category.La contadora presentó el desglose de gastos por categoría.
b. el análisis (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
I'd like to see a breakdown by month of the company's income and expenses.Quisiera ver un análisis por mes de los ingresos y gastos de la empresa.
5. (chemistry)
a. la descomposición (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
We did a breakdown of sugar into carbon and water using sulfuric acid.Hicimos una descomposición del azúcar en carbono y agua con ácido sulfúrico.
failure(
feyl
-
yuhr
)A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
a. el fracaso (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
The leaders could not agree and the meeting was a failure.Los líderes no pudieron ponerse de acuerdo y la reunión fue un fracaso.
2. (defect)
a. el fracasado (M), la fracasada (F)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
I'm a failure who will never accomplish anything in life!¡Soy un fracasado que no conseguirá hacer nada en la vida!
4. (bankruptcy)
a. la quiebra (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
The failure of the company was caused by the financial crisis.La quiebra de la empresa se debió a la crisis económica.
5. (omission)
a. la insuficiencia (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Due to renal and cardiac failure, they had to put the old cat to sleep.Debido a la insuficiencia renal y cardíaca, tuvieron que sacrificar al gato viejo.