When something frustrates you, it means it's stopping you from doing what you want to do or achieving your goals. Imagine you're trying to open a jar, but it's stuck. The jar is frustrating you because it's preventing you from getting to the contents. Similarly, a difficult problem at work or a long line at the store can frustrate you because they hinder your progress. In Spanish, we use the verb "frustrar" to describe this feeling or action of being hindered or prevented from moving forward. It's a common feeling when things don't go as planned!
frustrar in 30 Seconds
- block
- hinder
- thwart
Grammar to Know
When 'frustrar' is used reflexively as 'frustrarse', it means 'to get frustrated'. For example, 'Me frustra cuando no entiendo' (It frustrates me when I don't understand).
No te frustres si no lo entiendes a la primera. (Don't get frustrated if you don't understand it the first time.)
The verb 'frustrar' can be used with a direct object to indicate what or who is being frustrated. For example, 'Frustró nuestros planes' (He frustrated our plans).
El mal tiempo frustró nuestro viaje a la playa. (The bad weather frustrated our trip to the beach.)
'Frustrar' can also be used with an indirect object to indicate who is experiencing frustration. For example, 'Le frustra el retraso' (The delay frustrates him/her).
Me frustra que la computadora sea tan lenta. (It frustrates me that the computer is so slow.)
When expressing that something is frustrating, you can use the structure 'Es frustrante que...' followed by the subjunctive. For example, 'Es frustrante que no podamos avanzar' (It's frustrating that we can't move forward).
Es frustrante que siempre haya problemas con la conexión a internet. (It's frustrating that there are always problems with the internet connection.)
The past participle 'frustrado/a' can be used as an adjective to describe someone who is frustrated. For example, 'Está frustrado con su trabajo' (He is frustrated with his job).
Me siento frustrada por no haber terminado el proyecto a tiempo. (I feel frustrated for not having finished the project on time.)
Examples by Level
La lluvia frustró nuestros planes de ir a la playa.
The rain frustrated our plans to go to the beach.
Here, 'frustrar' is used with a direct object (nuestros planes).
No dejes que el miedo te frustre.
Don't let fear frustrate you.
'Te' is a direct object pronoun.
Los problemas técnicos pueden frustrar a los usuarios.
Technical problems can frustrate users.
Here, 'frustrar' is used with a direct object (los usuarios).
A veces, las metas difíciles nos frustran.
Sometimes, difficult goals frustrate us.
'Nos' is a direct object pronoun.
Su falta de ayuda frustró el proyecto.
His/Her lack of help frustrated the project.
The subject is 'su falta de ayuda'.
No quiero frustrar tus sueños.
I don't want to frustrate your dreams.
'Tus sueños' is the direct object.
La burocracia puede frustrar a muchas personas.
Bureaucracy can frustrate many people.
Here, 'frustrar' is used with a direct object (muchas personas).
El tráfico frustró su llegada a tiempo.
The traffic frustrated his/her on-time arrival.
The subject is 'el tráfico'.
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
No dejes que el fracaso te frustre.
Don't let failure frustrate you.
Me frustra que no entienda.
It frustrates me that he doesn't understand.
La falta de comunicación puede frustrar los proyectos.
Lack of communication can frustrate projects.
Intentaron frustrar nuestros planes, pero no lo lograron.
They tried to frustrate our plans, but they didn't succeed.
A veces me frustro con la burocracia.
Sometimes I get frustrated with bureaucracy.
Su actitud pasiva frustró todos los esfuerzos del equipo.
His passive attitude frustrated all the team's efforts.
Es fácil frustrarse cuando las cosas no salen como esperas.
It's easy to get frustrated when things don't go as you expect.
El mal tiempo frustró su viaje a la playa.
The bad weather frustrated their trip to the beach.
No quiero frustrarte, pero creo que eso no funcionará.
I don't want to frustrate you, but I think that won't work.
La corrupción puede frustrar el desarrollo de un país.
Corruption can frustrate a country's development.
Word Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Test Yourself 24 questions
No dejes que los pequeños problemas te ___ de alcanzar tus metas.
The sentence means: Don't let small problems prevent you from reaching your goals. 'Frustren' means 'frustrate' or 'prevent'.
A veces es fácil ___ cuando las cosas no salen como esperas.
The sentence means: Sometimes it's easy to get frustrated when things don't go as you expect. 'Frustrarse' means 'to get frustrated'.
El mal tiempo puede ___ nuestros planes de ir a la playa.
The sentence means: Bad weather can prevent our plans to go to the beach. 'Frustrar' means 'to prevent' or 'to frustrate'.
No quiero ___ tu progreso, sigue adelante.
The sentence means: I don't want to prevent your progress, keep going. 'Frustrar' means 'to prevent' or 'to hinder'.
Me ___ no poder entender este tema.
The sentence means: It frustrates me not to be able to understand this topic. 'Frustra' means 'it frustrates'.
Es importante no dejar que los errores te ___.
The sentence means: It's important not to let mistakes frustrate you. 'Frustren' means 'frustrate' or 'discourage'.
Choose the best translation for 'frustrar':
While 'frustrar' can mean 'to frustrate' in some contexts, for CEFR B1 and the given definition (to prevent someone from progressing or succeeding), 'to prevent' is the more accurate and practical translation.
Which word is an antonym (opposite) of 'frustrar' in the context of preventing progress?
If 'frustrar' means to prevent progress, then 'ayudar' (to help) would be its opposite, as helping facilitates progress.
Which sentence uses 'frustrar' correctly?
In this context, 'frustrar' means to stop or prevent, which fits preventing a goal. The other options don't make sense with the meaning 'to prevent from progressing or succeeding'.
The word 'frustrar' can be used to describe stopping someone from achieving a goal.
Yes, 'frustrar' directly relates to preventing success or progress, which includes stopping someone from achieving a goal.
If you say 'La lluvia frustró nuestros planes', it means the rain helped your plans.
No, 'La lluvia frustró nuestros planes' means the rain prevented or ruined our plans, not helped them.
A synonym for 'frustrar' (to prevent progress) could be 'impedir'.
Yes, 'impedir' also means to impede or prevent, making it a good synonym for 'frustrar' in this context.
What is being frustrated?
Whose attitude can frustrate others?
What is frustrating to the speaker?
Read this aloud:
Me siento frustrado cuando no puedo encontrar mis llaves.
Focus: frus-tra-do
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
No dejes que los pequeños problemas te frustren.
Focus: frus-tren
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
¿Qué te frustra más en el trabajo?
Focus: frus-tra
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
This sentence means 'Don't try to frustrate me.'
This means 'He/She was able to thwart their plans.'
This translates to 'The task frustrated us.'
/ 24 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
Frustrar is about preventing progress or success, either actively or passively.
- block
- hinder
- thwart
Related Content
This Word in Other Languages
More emotions words
a diferencia de
B1Unlike; in contrast to.
abatido
B1Feeling or showing great sadness or discouragement; dejected.
abatimiento
B2State of being low in spirits; dejection or depression.
abatir
B1To make someone feel dejected or disheartened.
abierto/a de mente
B2Open-minded; willing to consider new ideas; unprejudiced.
aborrecer
B1To regard with disgust and hatred; to loathe.
abrazar
A1To put one's arms around someone as a sign of affection.
abrazo
A1An act of holding someone closely in one's arms; a hug.
abrumador
B1Overpowering; very great or intense.
abrumar
B1To overwhelm (someone) with a large amount of something.
