arruinó
/ah-rroo-ee-NOH/
ruined
The storm ruined the old building.
arruinó(Verb (Conjugated Form))
ruined
?financial or physical destruction
,bankrupted
?economic collapse
destroyed
?physical damage
,wrecked
?a business or project
📝 In Action
El huracán arruinó todas las cosechas en la costa.
B1The hurricane ruined all the harvests on the coast.
La mala inversión arruinó su negocio en solo un año.
B2The bad investment bankrupted his business in just one year.
💡 Grammar Points
The Preterite Tense
‘Arruinó’ describes an action that was completely finished and done in the past, like a single, completed event. Use it for specific moments: 'Yesterday, the rain ruined the picnic.'
❌ Common Pitfalls
Preterite vs. Imperfect
Mistake: "Using 'arruinaba' (imperfect) for a single, sudden event."
Correction: Use 'arruinó' (preterite) for a specific moment of ruin. 'Arruinaba' would mean 'it used to ruin' or 'it was ruining' over a period of time.
⭐ Usage Tips
Identifying the Subject
Since 'arruinó' means 'he/she/it/you (formal) ruined,' you often need to look at the context to know who or what performed the action: 'Él/Ella/Usted arruinó.'
The unexpected rain spoiled the afternoon picnic.
arruinó(Verb (Conjugated Form))
spoiled
?an event or mood
,messed up
?plans or reputation
wrecked
?a party or attempt
📝 In Action
Su mal humor arruinó la cena para todos.
A2His bad mood spoiled dinner for everyone.
Esa mentira arruinó su reputación para siempre.
B1That lie ruined his reputation forever.
💡 Grammar Points
Use with Non-People Subjects
In Spanish, non-living things often act as the subject of 'arruinó.' For example, 'The noise ruined the movie' ('El ruido arruinó la película').
⭐ Usage Tips
Focus on the Result
Use 'arruinó' when the action resulted in a final, negative outcome, like when a reputation is permanently damaged or a plan is definitively canceled.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: arruinó
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'arruinó' to mean 'spoiled an event'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How is 'arruinó' different from 'destruyó'?
Both mean 'destroyed,' but 'arruinó' often carries the meaning of financial or figurative ruin (like reputation or plans), while 'destruyó' (from destruir) is typically used for physical, violent demolition.
Is 'arruinó' a past tense form?
'Arruinó' is the simple past tense (preterite) form. It tells you that 'He, she, it, or you (formal)' completed the action of ruining at a specific moment in the past.