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"Fail" is an intransitive verb which is often translated as "fallar", and "flunk" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "reprobar". Learn more about the difference between "fail" and "flunk" below.
fail(
feyl
)An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
a. fallar
The car won't start because the engine has failed.El carro no arranca porque falló el motor.
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
4. (education)
a. reprobar (Latin America)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
Larry is not good at numbers; that's why he failed the math test.A Larry no se le dan bien los números; por eso reprobó el examen de matemáticas.
c. catear (colloquial) (Spain)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Spain
I can't afford to fail another course in college.No puedo permitirme catear otro curso de universidad.
A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
6. (education)
a. el suspenso (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).
This semester I got a fail on my history test.Este semestre saqué un suspenso en mi examen de historia.
7. (colloquial) (computing)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. el fracaso (M) (colloquial)
(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).
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
I had a laugh looking through some of the best Internet fails.Me pasé un rato riendo mirando algunos de los mejores fracasos en internet.
flunk(
fluhngk
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (colloquial) (to fail)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. reprobar (Latin America)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
I can't believe I flunked the test. I studied so hard!No puedo creer que haya reprobado el examen. ¡Estudié un montón!
You flunked the test because you waited until the day before to try and learn everything.Reprobaste el examen porque esperaste hasta el día anterior para tratar de aprender todo.
c. tronar (colloquial) (Central America) (Cuba) (Mexico)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Central America: Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama
Regionalism used in Cuba
Regionalism used in Mexico
Paula flunked the test because she only read the first chapter of the book.Paula tronó el examen porque solo leyó el primer capítulo del libro.
d. rajar (colloquial) (Bolivia) (Colombia)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Bolivia
Regionalism used in Colombia
I flunked physics last semester.Rajé física el semestre pasado.
e. jalar (colloquial) (Ecuador)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Ecuador
If I flunk another test my dad will be mad.Si jalo otro examen mi papá se va a enojar.
f. catear (colloquial) (Spain)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Spain
You need to study so you don't flunk chemistry.Tienes que estudiar para no catear química.
2. (colloquial) (to give a failing grade)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. reprobar (Latin America)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
Mr. Dunn flunked everyone who cheated.El Sr. Dunn reprobó a todos los que copiaron.
c. catear (colloquial) (Spain)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Spain
The history teacher flunked Ivan with an F.La maestra de historia cateó a Iván con un 5.
d. tronar (colloquial) (Central America) (Cuba) (Mexico)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Central America: Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama
Regionalism used in Cuba
Regionalism used in Mexico
The professor flunked those who plagiarized part of their essay.El profesor tronó a los que plagiaron partes de su ensayo.
e. bochar (colloquial) (River Plate)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
If you're absent again, the teacher will flunk you.Si vuelves a faltar, la maestra te va a bochar.
f. jalar (colloquial) (Peru)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Peru
Mrs. Jenny is really easy. She's never flunked any of her students.La maestra Jenny es un barco. Nunca ha jalado a ninguno de sus estudiantes.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
3. (colloquial) (to fail)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. reprobar (Latin America)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
Are you serious? Did you flunk again?¿Es en serio? ¿Reprobaste otra vez?
b. tronar (colloquial) (Central America) (Cuba) (Mexico)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Central America: Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama
Regionalism used in Cuba
Regionalism used in Mexico
I got an F on the test, which means I flunked.Saqué 5 en el examen, lo que significa que troné.
c. rajar (colloquial) (Bolivia) (Colombia)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Bolivia
Regionalism used in Colombia
If Mary flunks again, she's out of the school.Si Mary raja otra vez, está fuera del colegio.
d. jalar (colloquial) (Ecuador)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Ecuador
I don't understand why I flunked if I studied so hard.No entiendo por qué jalé si estudié tanto.
