desorden
“desorden” means “mess” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
mess
Also: clutter, untidiness
📝 In Action
Tienes que limpiar el desorden de tu habitación antes de salir.
A2You have to clean up the mess in your room before leaving.
Siempre hay un gran desorden en mi escritorio al final del día.
A2There is always a big mess on my desk at the end of the day.
disorder
Also: unrest, chaos
📝 In Action
La caída del gobierno provocó un desorden social generalizado.
C1The fall of the government caused widespread social disorder.
El médico le diagnosticó un desorden del sueño.
B2The doctor diagnosed him with a sleep disorder.
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: desorden
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses the noun 'desorden'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
Formed in Spanish by adding the negative prefix 'des-' (meaning 'un-' or 'lack of') to the noun 'orden' (order), which comes from the Latin word *ordo* meaning 'row' or 'arrangement'. It literally means 'the absence of arrangement'.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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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.