arruinado
/ah-rwee-NAH-doh/
ruined
When used as an adjective, arruinado means ruined, describing something that has suffered general destruction or failure.
arruinado(adjective)
ruined
?general destruction/failure
,broke
?financially destitute
bankrupt
?legal financial status
,destroyed
?reputation, plans, etc.
📝 In Action
Después de la inversión fallida, se quedó arruinado.
B1After the failed investment, he was left ruined (broke).
Su reputación está arruinada por el escándalo.
B2Her reputation is destroyed by the scandal.
El incendio dejó la casa completamente arruinada.
A2The fire left the house completely ruined.
💡 Grammar Points
Agreement is Crucial
Since 'arruinado' is an adjective, make sure it matches the thing it describes in both gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural): 'arruinado', 'arruinada', 'arruinados', 'arruinadas'.
Using SER vs. ESTAR
You almost always use 'estar' (to be) with 'arruinado' because it describes the current condition or state of someone or something, not an inherent quality.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting Gender Match
Mistake: "La empresa está arruinado."
Correction: La empresa está arruinada. (Since 'empresa' is feminine, the adjective must also be feminine.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Stronger than 'Poor'
Use 'arruinado' when someone has lost everything or is completely destitute. It's much stronger than simply being 'pobre' (poor).
As a noun, arruinado refers to a person who is financially destitute or ruined.
arruinado(noun)
ruined person
?a person who is financially destitute
destitute person
?someone who has nothing
📝 In Action
El arruinado tuvo que pedir limosna para comer.
B2The ruined man had to beg for alms to eat.
Nadie quiere ser un arruinado en esta ciudad.
C1No one wants to be a destitute person in this city.
💡 Grammar Points
Adjective Used as a Noun
Like many adjectives in Spanish, 'arruinado' can become a noun just by putting an article (like 'el' or 'un') in front of it. This makes it refer to 'the person who is ruined'.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: arruinado
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses the adjective 'arruinado'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'arruinado' only used for money?
No. While it's very common for financial situations ('broke'), you can use it for anything that is completely spoiled or destroyed, like a reputation, a plan, or a building.
What is the difference between 'pobre' and 'arruinado'?
'Pobre' means poor—lacking money generally. 'Arruinado' means ruined or bankrupt—it implies having suffered a catastrophic loss, often going from having something to having nothing.