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tronar means to break down / to fail — a common term in Mexican Slang. Learn how it's used in a real-world example.

📅 Published: August 20, 2025

🌶️ Mexican Slang

tronar

verb • /[troh-NAR]/

to break down / to fail

Example:

El carro tronó en ruta.

The car broke down on route.

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🧠 What does tronar mean?

In Mexican slang, "tronar" means to break down, to fail, or to stop working. It's commonly used with mechanical objects like cars, appliances, or electronics, but it can also refer to plans or agreements that fall apart. Think of it as something "giving out" or "conking out."

📚 Extra examples

  • Mi carro tronó en medio de la carretera.
    My car broke down in the middle of the highway.
  • El refrigerador tronó justo antes de la fiesta.
    The refrigerator died right before the party.
  • Nuestro trato tronó cuando no llegaron a un acuerdo.
    Our deal fell through when they couldn't reach an agreement.
  • ¡No puedo creer que mi teléfono tronó otra vez!
    I can't believe my phone died again!

❓ FAQ

How do you say 'to break down / to fail' in Spanish?
While there are several ways to say 'to break down' or 'to fail' in Spanish, "tronar" is a common and informal way to express this in Mexican slang.
How do you pronounce 'tronar' in Spanish?
It's pronounced troh-NAR, with the stress on the second syllable.
How do you use 'tronar' in a sentence?
You can use "tronar" with the preposition "con" to specify what broke down. For example, "Mi computadora tronó con el nuevo software" (My computer crashed with the new software). You can also use it more generally, like "El negocio tronó" (The business went under).
What is the English translation of 'tronar'?
In this context, 'tronar' translates to 'to break down', 'to fail', 'to give out', 'to conk out', or 'to die (referring to a machine).'
Does 'tronar' change for gender or number?
The conjugation of 'tronar' changes depending on the tense and subject, like most verbs, but it doesn't have specific gendered forms.
Is 'tronar' common in everyday Spanish?
While understood in many Spanish-speaking countries, 'tronar' with this meaning is most common in Mexican slang.
Does 'tronar' have slang or double meanings?
'Tronar' has a few other meanings, including 'to thunder' (its literal meaning) and 'to flunk' (an exam). The slang meaning of 'to break down' is very common in Mexico.
Is 'tronar' used differently in Spain vs Latin America?
Yes. In Spain, 'tronar' primarily means 'to thunder'. The slang usage of 'to break down' is more common in Mexico.
How do you conjugate 'tronar' in Spanish?
Here's the present tense: Yo trono Tú tronas Él/Ella/Usted trona Nosotros/as tronamos Vosotros/as tronáis Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes tronan

🔁 Synonyms & opposites of "tronar"

Synonyms: fallar, descomponerse, estropearse, averiarse
Opposites: funcionar, arreglarse

💡 Did You Know?

While "tronar" literally means "to thunder," its slang meaning in Mexico is far more common in daily conversation.

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