Reprovar

Reprovar is a verb used in Spanish and Portuguese to indicate that a student has failed a test, course, or assessment. It denotes not achieving the minimum passing grade on an evaluation, which may lead to repeating the subject or taking a recovery examination, depending on the educational system.

In Spanish, the infinitive is reprobar, and in Portuguese it is reprovar. The term is used across regions to describe failing an exam, an assignment, or an entire course. Common phrases include “reprobar un examen” in Spanish and “reprovar a prova” or “ficar reprovado” in Portuguese. The noun form “reprobación” (or “reprovação” in Portuguese) describes the result of failing.

Etymology traces reprobar to Latin reprobāre, meaning to disapprove or reject. The verb has cognates in other Romance languages, reflecting a shared concept of failing to meet required standards in an evaluation.

Educational implications vary by system but typically include the need for remediation. Depending on policy, a student who reprova might retake the exam, repeat the course, or attend a recovery program or exam. Reprovar can affect progression to the next grade or level, academic records, and, in some contexts, the student’s motivation and self-perception. Institutions often provide guidance, tutoring, or remediation options to help students meet the passing requirements on subsequent assessments.

Regionally, the use and consequences of reprovar are common across Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking education systems, with specific passing marks and recovery procedures differing by country, school, and grade level.