colapso
/koˈlabso/
In Spanish, the English phrase collapse is translated as colapso.
The word colapso is a noun used to describe a collapse, such as a systemic or medical failure. It is a direct cognate of the English word.
Meaning: to fall down suddenly, to cave in (verb)
Which one should you use?
While colapso often refers to systemic or medical failures, other words are used for different types of collapse. Derrumbamiento is a synonym for collapse that is more commonly used when physical structures cave in. Desplome is frequently used to describe a sudden collapse in economic markets or a sudden drop in prices. Additionally, the word caída can be used to express a collapse, though it often refers to a fall or a decline.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun colapso corresponds to the verb colapsar, which means to collapse.
How do you pronounce it?
/koˈlabso/
Did you know?
- Spanish uses the verb desplomarse to describe a person falling asleep instantly from exhaustion, as if they had physically collapsed.
- While colapsar can mean a physical fall, in some Spanish-speaking countries it is used colloquially to describe a person who is completely overwhelmed or exhausted by work.
- Using colapsar to describe a person fainting or physically collapsing is common in some dialects, but it can sound overly medical or technical in others.
Examples in context
- Estoy al borde del colapso.I'm about to collapse.This sentence shows how to express being on the verge of a colapso.Tatoeba #7551139 by arh, translation #9483670 by DJ_Saidez
- En física, la inestabilidad de Jeans provoca el colapso de nubes de gas interestelar y la subsiguiente formación de estrellas.In physics, the Jeans instability causes the collapse of interstellar gas clouds and subsequent star formation.This sentence demonstrates the use of colapso in a scientific context regarding gas clouds.Tatoeba #5261603 by albrusgher, translation #2075484 by seregas
- Me parece que uno de los grandes errores de interpretación de nuestra época es la afirmación de que, con el colapso de la Unión Soviética comunista, fracasó el socialismo y venció el capitalismo. Pero… ¿acaso el "socialismo" de la Unión Soviética fue algo más que un capitalismo de Estado?One of the great misunderstandings of our epoch seems to be the claim that, with the collapse of the communist Soviet state, socialism has failed and capitalism has been victorious. But was the "socialism" of the Soviet Union anything other than state capitalism?This sentence illustrates the use of colapso when discussing the collapse of a political state.Tatoeba #4148934 by Leono, translation #12198588 by Miktsoanit
- El puente colapsó debido a la lluvia intensaThe bridge collapsed due to the heavy rain
- El árbol se desplomó con un estruendo ensordecedorThe tree collapsed with a deafening crash
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Javier and Lucía are discussing an old building in their neighborhood.
- JavierCuidado, creo que ese techo colapso ayer.Careful, I think that ceiling collapsed yesterday.
- LucíaSí, Javier, se ve muy peligroso ahora.Yes, Javier, it looks very dangerous now.
- JavierEspero que el resto del edificio no colapso.I hope the rest of the building didn't collapse.
- LucíaNo lo creo, pero mejor no entremos.I don't think so, but it's better if we don't go in.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry colapso, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
