plaga
/PLAH-gah/
plague
The primary meaning of 'plaga' is a plague or major infestation, often associated with disease or historical events.
plaga(noun)
plague
?disease or historical event
,pest
?insect or animal problem
,infestation
?when pests overrun an area
pestilence
?formal term for a severe disease outbreak
📝 In Action
La plaga de langostas destruyó toda la cosecha.
B1The plague of locusts destroyed the entire harvest.
Necesitamos un exterminador para deshacernos de esta plaga de cucarachas.
B2We need an exterminator to get rid of this cockroach infestation.
La zona rural sufrió una plaga de mosquitos este verano.
B1The rural area suffered a mosquito plague this summer.
💡 Grammar Points
Always Feminine
Since 'plaga' ends in '-a', it is a feminine noun, so you must use 'la' or 'una' before it: 'la plaga' (the plague).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'Peste' Incorrectly
Mistake: "Using 'peste' when talking about crop damage or insects."
Correction: While 'peste' means 'plague' (especially historical diseases), 'plaga' is the better word for modern problems like insect infestations or agricultural pests.
⭐ Usage Tips
Context is Key
When referring to a historical disaster like the Black Death, both 'peste' and 'plaga' can be used, but for specific modern insect problems, stick to 'plaga'.
'Plaga' can also refer to an annoyance or nuisance, such as an irritating swarm of insects.
plaga(noun)
nuisance
?annoying problem
,curse
?a serious affliction or problem
,affliction
?something causing great trouble
scourge
?something that causes widespread suffering
📝 In Action
La burocracia es la plaga de nuestra sociedad.
B2Bureaucracy is the curse/scourge of our society.
Ese ruido constante es una plaga para los vecinos.
C1That constant noise is a nuisance for the neighbors.
La falta de transporte público es una plaga en las afueras de la ciudad.
B2The lack of public transport is an affliction in the city outskirts.
💡 Grammar Points
Using 'Ser' (To Be)
You often use 'ser' (to be) with 'plaga' to describe something that permanently or characteristically causes trouble: 'El tráfico es una plaga' (Traffic is a plague/curse).
⭐ Usage Tips
Expressing Frustration
Using 'plaga' figuratively is a strong way to express deep frustration about a major, ongoing problem, much stronger than simply calling it a 'problema' (problem).
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: plaga
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'plaga' in its figurative sense?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'plaga' only used for insects?
'Plaga' most often refers to biological problems like insects, rodents, or crop diseases. However, it is also very commonly used to talk about large, destructive problems or annoyances, like 'la plaga del crimen' (the curse of crime).
How is 'plaga' different from 'peste'?
While both can mean 'plague,' 'peste' is usually reserved for serious infectious diseases (like the bubonic plague) or sometimes used informally to mean 'a bad smell.' 'Plaga' is the standard word for widespread animal or insect infestations and figurative problems.