aceptar la derrota
Lemma Details
Translation: to accept defeat; to concede defeat; to acknowledge loss
Part of Speech: phrase
Etymology: This phrase combines 'aceptar' (to accept) from Latin 'acceptare' (to receive willingly) and 'derrota' (defeat) from French 'déroute' (rout, defeat) which ultimately comes from Latin 'disrupta' (broken apart). The concept reflects the universal human experience of acknowledging when one has lost or failed.
Commonality: 70%
Guessability: 80%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
El candidato aceptó la derrota en las elecciones con dignidad.
The candidate accepted defeat in the elections with dignity.
Es importante saber aceptar la derrota y aprender de ella.
It's important to know how to accept defeat and learn from it.
Después de tres horas de juego, finalmente aceptó la derrota en el ajedrez.
After three hours of play, he finally accepted defeat in chess.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'accept' + 'defeat' - the words are similar in both languages
- Visualize a soccer player shaking hands with the opponent after losing a match
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Antonyms
Cultural Context
This phrase is commonly used in sports contexts but extends to politics, business negotiations, and personal challenges. In Spanish-speaking cultures, there's often an emphasis on accepting defeat graciously ('saber perder') as a sign of good character and sportsmanship.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While 'aceptar la derrota' means to accept that you've lost, 'aceptar el desafío' means to accept a challenge or dare - essentially the opposite situation.
Confused word:
El campeón aceptó el desafío de enfrentarse al nuevo contendiente.
The champion accepted the challenge to face the new contender.
Notes: These phrases represent opposite points in a competition: accepting a challenge happens at the beginning, while accepting defeat happens at the end.
Mnemonic: Derrota (defeat) ends with 'rota' which sounds like 'broken' (as in broken hopes), while desafío contains 'fío' which sounds like 'fight' (accepting a fight).