Inklingo
← Dictionary

desorden

/des-OR-den/

mess

A colorful storybook illustration showing a child's bedroom floor completely covered in a chaotic pile of scattered toys, clothes, and books, depicting severe physical clutter.

Desorden (mess): Visualizing physical clutter and untidiness.

desorden(noun)

mA2

mess

?

physical clutter or untidiness

Also:

clutter

?

too many objects scattered around

,

untidiness

?

lack of neatness

📝 In Action

Tienes que limpiar el desorden de tu habitación antes de salir.

A2

You have to clean up the mess in your room before leaving.

Siempre hay un gran desorden en mi escritorio al final del día.

A2

There is always a big mess on my desk at the end of the day.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • lío (mess, trouble)
  • embrollo (jumble, tangle)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • hacer un desorden – to make a mess
  • vivir en desorden – to live in disorder

💡 Grammar Points

Masculine Noun Rule

Even though many Spanish nouns ending in -n are feminine, 'desorden' is masculine. Always say 'el desorden' or 'un desorden'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing Noun and Adjective

Mistake: "Mi casa es muy desorden."

Correction: Mi casa es un desorden (My house is a mess) OR Mi casa está desordenada (My house is messy). Remember 'desorden' is the noun (the mess itself).

⭐ Usage Tips

Using 'Hay'

The easiest way to talk about a mess is to use 'hay' (there is/are): 'Hay mucho desorden en la sala.' (There is a lot of mess in the living room.)

A colorful storybook illustration depicting a tall, organized tower made of square building blocks suddenly collapsing into a wide, disorganized heap on the ground, symbolizing structural chaos.

Desorden (disorder): Representing social or structural chaos and lack of order.

desorden(noun)

mB2

disorder

?

social, political, or medical chaos

Also:

unrest

?

public disturbance

,

chaos

?

total confusion

📝 In Action

La caída del gobierno provocó un desorden social generalizado.

C1

The fall of the government caused widespread social disorder.

El médico le diagnosticó un desorden del sueño.

B2

The doctor diagnosed him with a sleep disorder.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • disturbio (riot, disturbance)
  • caos (chaos)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • desorden público – public disorder
  • desorden mental – mental disorder

⭐ Usage Tips

Formal Contexts

In medical or psychological contexts, 'desorden' is the formal term used, similar to 'disorder' in English (e.g., 'desorden alimenticio' for eating disorder).

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: desorden

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence correctly uses the noun 'desorden'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

orden(order) - noun
ordenar(to order, to organize) - verb
desordenado/a(messy, disorganized) - adjective

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'desorden' always masculine?

Yes, 'desorden' is always masculine, so you must use 'el desorden' or 'un desorden.' This is different from its root word, 'la orden' (the command/order), which is feminine. However, 'el orden' (the arrangement) is masculine, just like 'desorden.'

What is the difference between 'desorden' and 'desordenado'?

'Desorden' is the thing itself—the mess (a noun). 'Desordenado/a' is the description—the adjective used to say that a room or a person is messy.