In 15 Sekunden
- To endure or experience a significant loss or failure.
- Commonly used in sports, politics, and professional setbacks.
- More formal and impactful than the simple verb 'perdre'.
Bedeutung
This phrase describes the act of losing a match, an election, or a major struggle. It implies you didn't just lose; you had to endure the weight and impact of that loss.
Wichtige Beispiele
3 von 7Discussing a soccer match
L'équipe nationale a subi une défaite inattendue hier soir.
The national team suffered an unexpected defeat last night.
Talking about a board game with friends
J'ai encore subi une défaite totale contre toi au Monopoly !
I suffered a total defeat against you in Monopoly again!
A political news report
Le parti au pouvoir a subi une défaite électorale majeure.
The ruling party suffered a major electoral defeat.
Kultureller Hintergrund
The French often use 'subir une défaite' when discussing the national football team (Les Bleus). There is a cultural emphasis on 'l'honneur' even in loss. In Quebec, the phrase is used similarly but you might also hear 'encaisser une défaite' more frequently in hockey commentary. In Francophone Africa, sports and politics are high-stakes. 'Subir une défaite' is used in newspapers to describe major shifts in local power. Belgian political discourse is complex due to the coalition system. 'Subir une défaite' often refers to a party losing seats in the federal parliament.
Pair it with 'cuisante'
If you want to sound like a native sports journalist, always use 'une défaite cuisante' (a stinging/crushing defeat).
Gender Check
Always remember 'défaite' is feminine. 'Un défaite' is a very common mistake for English and Spanish speakers.
In 15 Sekunden
- To endure or experience a significant loss or failure.
- Commonly used in sports, politics, and professional setbacks.
- More formal and impactful than the simple verb 'perdre'.
What It Means
Subir une défaite is more than just losing. It is about the experience of the loss. The verb subir means to undergo or endure something unpleasant. When you use this phrase, you are highlighting the impact of the loss. It suggests that the defeat was something that happened to you. It carries a bit of weight and gravity. It is not just a simple 'I lost.' It is a 'we were defeated.'
How To Use It
You use this phrase like any other verb-noun combination. You can conjugate subir in any tense you need. For example, ils ont subi for the past. You often see it with adjectives to describe the loss. You might hear une défaite cuisante for a stinging defeat. Or une défaite électorale for a political loss. It fits perfectly in sports news and political debates. You can also use it for personal goals that didn't work out.
When To Use It
Use this when the stakes are high. It is perfect for a sports team losing a championship. It works well when a politician loses an important vote. You can use it in business when a deal falls through. It is great for adding a bit of drama to your story. If you are talking to a friend about a board game, it works too. It makes your loss sound a bit more epic and tragic.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use this for tiny, everyday accidents. If you lose your car keys, do not say you subi une défaite. That would sound very strange and overly dramatic. Avoid it for small games where nobody really cares about the score. If you are just 'losing your mind' or 'losing your way,' use perdre. This phrase requires a specific event of losing against an opponent or a challenge. Don't use it if the loss was actually a good thing!
Cultural Background
France has a long history of military and political shifts. This phrase reflects a formal way of acknowledging a setback. In French culture, losing with dignity is often respected. Using subir suggests that you are facing the reality of the situation. It is a common headline in French newspapers like Le Monde. It shows a certain level of linguistic sophistication. It is part of the 'noble' vocabulary of competition and struggle.
Common Variations
You might hear essuyer un revers, which is even more formal. It literally means 'to wipe a setback.' Another one is connaître la défaite, which means 'to know defeat.' If you want to be very casual, you just say on a perdu. But subir une défaite remains the gold standard for serious reporting. It sounds professional yet remains accessible to everyone. Use it to sound like a true French commentator!
Nutzungshinweise
This is a neutral to slightly formal collocation. It is perfectly safe for B1 learners to use in both writing and speaking to sound more precise than just using 'perdre'.
Pair it with 'cuisante'
If you want to sound like a native sports journalist, always use 'une défaite cuisante' (a stinging/crushing defeat).
Gender Check
Always remember 'défaite' is feminine. 'Un défaite' is a very common mistake for English and Spanish speakers.
The 'Beau Jeu'
In France, you can 'subir une défaite' but still win the respect of the public if you played beautifully.
Beispiele
7L'équipe nationale a subi une défaite inattendue hier soir.
The national team suffered an unexpected defeat last night.
A classic use in sports commentary.
J'ai encore subi une défaite totale contre toi au Monopoly !
I suffered a total defeat against you in Monopoly again!
Adds a humorous touch of drama to a casual game.
Le parti au pouvoir a subi une défaite électorale majeure.
The ruling party suffered a major electoral defeat.
Very standard phrasing for political journalism.
Bon, j'ai subi une petite défaite pour le poste, ils ont choisi quelqu'un d'autre.
Well, I suffered a bit of a defeat for the job, they chose someone else.
Uses the phrase to soften the blow of bad news.
Il est difficile de subir une défaite quand on a tant travaillé.
It is hard to suffer a defeat when you have worked so much.
Focuses on the emotional weight of the experience.
Nous ne pouvons pas nous permettre de subir une autre défaite commerciale.
We cannot afford to suffer another commercial defeat.
Used to emphasize the seriousness of a business loss.
Même si tu as subi une défaite, l'important c'est d'apprendre.
Even if you suffered a defeat, the important thing is to learn.
A supportive way to acknowledge a loss.
Teste dich selbst
Conjuguez le verbe 'subir' au présent.
L'équipe de football ________ une défaite difficile ce soir.
'L'équipe' is third-person singular (elle).
Choisissez l'adjectif qui convient (accord féminin).
Ils ont subi une défaite ________.
'Défaite' is feminine singular, so the adjective must be 'cuisante'.
Associez la phrase au contexte approprié.
Dans quel contexte utiliseriez-vous 'subir une défaite électorale' ?
'Électorale' refers specifically to elections.
Complétez le dialogue avec la forme correcte.
Journaliste : 'Comment vous sentez-vous après ce match ?' Joueur : 'C'est dur de ________ une telle défaite.'
After 'de', we use the infinitive form.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Perdre vs. Subir une défaite
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenL'équipe de football ________ une défaite difficile ce soir.
'L'équipe' is third-person singular (elle).
Ils ont subi une défaite ________.
'Défaite' is feminine singular, so the adjective must be 'cuisante'.
Dans quel contexte utiliseriez-vous 'subir une défaite électorale' ?
'Électorale' refers specifically to elections.
Journaliste : 'Comment vous sentez-vous après ce match ?' Joueur : 'C'est dur de ________ une telle défaite.'
After 'de', we use the infinitive form.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenTechnically yes, but it sounds very dramatic. It's better to use 'perdre' for small games or everyday losses.
'Subir' is more common and neutral. 'Essuyer' is slightly more formal and implies weathering a blow.
Yes, it always refers to a loss, but you can have an 'honorable defeat'.
It uses 'avoir': 'J'ai subi', 'Tu as subi', 'Il a subi'.
Yes, but 'échec' (failure) is usually for projects or goals, while 'défaite' is for competitions against an opponent.
Yes, for losing contracts, market share, or legal battles.
The opposite is 'victoire' (victory).
Usually 'face à' (against) or 'lors de' (during). Example: 'défaite face à l'Italie'.
No, that would be very strange. Use 'rupture' or 'séparation'.
Extremely common. Look at the sports or politics section of any French newspaper.
Verwandte Redewendungen
essuyer un échec
similarTo meet with failure
remporter une victoire
contrastTo win a victory
mordre la poussière
similarTo bite the dust
connaître la défaite
similarTo know defeat
