desastre
“desastre” means “disaster” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
disaster
Also: catastrophe, calamity
📝 In Action
El terremoto causó un desastre natural en la región.
A2The earthquake caused a natural disaster in the region.
La reunión fue un completo desastre; nadie estaba preparado.
B1The meeting was a complete disaster; nobody was prepared.
mess
Also: trainwreck, shambles
📝 In Action
Mi habitación es un desastre; necesito limpiarla urgente.
A2My room is a mess; I urgently need to clean it.
Ella es un desastre con las finanzas, siempre está en números rojos.
B1She is a disaster (a mess/terrible) with finances; she is always in the red.
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "desastre" in Spanish:
calamity→catastrophe→disaster→mess→shambles→trainwreck→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: desastre
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'desastre' in the figurative sense of describing a person?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Old Italian word 'disastro,' which itself came from a combination of the negative prefix 'des-' (bad or ill) and the Greek word 'astron' (star). The original meaning related to 'ill-starred' or having a bad fate, linking catastrophe to bad celestial influence.
First recorded: 15th century (Spanish)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why is 'desastre' masculine even though it ends in -e?
Many Spanish nouns ending in -e can be either masculine or feminine. 'Desastre' follows the rule for most nouns of Greek origin ending in -ma, -pa, or -ta (like problema or planeta), which are masculine, although 'desastre' is its own exception and must be learned as 'el desastre'.
¿Desastre means only natural catastrophes?
No. While it can mean a natural disaster (earthquake, flood), it is used just as often to describe major failures in plans, meetings, parties, or even to call a person or object extremely messy or incompetent.