Inklingo
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ruina

/RWE-nah/

ruin

A crumbling stone wall of an ancient structure, partially covered in green vines, symbolizing a physical ruin.

Ruina: Ruin (a single destroyed structure).

ruina(noun)

fA2

ruin

?

a single destroyed structure

Also:

ruins

?

historical remains (often used in plural: las ruinas)

📝 In Action

Visitamos las ruinas de la antigua civilización maya.

A2

We visited the ruins of the ancient Mayan civilization.

Después del terremoto, solo quedó una ruina de la iglesia.

B1

After the earthquake, only a ruin remained of the church.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • escombros (rubble)
  • restos (remains)

Common Collocations

  • ruinas históricas – historical ruins
  • en ruinas – in ruins / dilapidated

⭐ Usage Tips

Singular vs. Plural

When talking about historical sites, Spanish often uses the plural form, 'las ruinas,' even though English might use the singular 'ruin' in some contexts.

A shattered ceramic piggy bank lying on a floor, with scattered coins rolling away, symbolizing financial loss or downfall.

Ruina: Ruin (financial or moral downfall).

ruina(noun)

fB2

ruin

?

financial or moral downfall

Also:

bankruptcy

?

economic failure

,

downfall

?

general collapse

📝 In Action

La crisis llevó a muchos pequeños negocios a la ruina.

B2

The crisis led many small businesses to ruin.

Su adicción al juego fue su ruina personal.

C1

His gambling addiction was his personal downfall.

No puedo comprar eso; me dejaría en la ruina.

B2

I can't buy that; it would leave me broke/ruined.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • bancarrota (bankruptcy)
  • fracaso (failure)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • estar en la ruina – to be broke/ruined
  • llevar a la ruina – to lead to ruin

❌ Common Pitfalls

Saying 'Broke'

Mistake: "Using a literal translation like 'Estoy roto' to mean 'I am broke' (financially)."

Correction: The correct, common way to say you are financially ruined is 'Estoy en la ruina.' ('Roto' usually means physically broken or emotionally devastated.)

A detailed sandcastle on a beach that is actively crumbling as a small ocean wave washes over its base, symbolizing a terrible failure.

Ruina: Disaster (a terrible failure or situation).

ruina(noun)

fC1

disaster

?

a terrible failure or situation

Also:

mess

?

something badly damaged or disorganized

,

wreck

?

referring to a broken object (e.g., a car)

📝 In Action

Mi viejo móvil es una ruina, la batería dura dos horas.

C1

My old phone is a disaster/wreck; the battery only lasts two hours.

¡Qué ruina de fin de semana! Llovió sin parar.

C1

What a disaster of a weekend! It rained non-stop.

Word Connections

Idioms & Expressions

  • ser una ruina – to be very expensive or costly (usually referencing upkeep or maintenance)

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: ruina

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'ruina' to mean financial failure?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

arruinar(to ruin, to destroy) - verb
ruinoso(ruinous, dilapidated) - adjective

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I say 'This is a ruin' when referring to an old, broken-down object?

You can use 'Esto es una ruina' or, more commonly, 'Esto está hecho una ruina.' This emphasizes that the object is in a terrible, destroyed state.

Is 'ruina' always negative?

Yes, 'ruina' almost always carries a negative meaning, referring to destruction, collapse, failure, or high cost. Even when talking about historical 'ruins,' it refers to a structure that has been destroyed.