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How to Say "disaster" in Spanish

English → Spanish

desastre

deh-SAHS-treh/deˈsastɾe/

nounA2general
Use 'desastre' when referring to a natural catastrophe or a significant failure that causes widespread damage or disruption.
A high-quality illustration showing a small wooden house partially destroyed and surrounded by brown floodwaters, symbolizing a natural disaster.

Examples

El terremoto causó un desastre natural en la región.

The earthquake caused a natural disaster in the region.

La reunión fue un completo desastre; nadie estaba preparado.

The meeting was a complete disaster; nobody was prepared.

Gender Check

Even though 'desastre' ends in an '-e,' it is always a masculine noun, meaning you must use 'el' or 'un' before it.

Confusing Gender

Mistake: “La desastre fue terrible.”

Correction: El desastre fue terrible. (Use the masculine article 'el'.)

tragedia

trah-HEH-dee-ah/tɾaˈxeðja/

nounA2general
Choose 'tragedia' to describe a terrible accident or event that results in great suffering, distress, or death.
A close-up illustration of a large, brightly colored tear rolling down a simple, sad human face, emphasizing misfortune.

Examples

El accidente de tren fue una tragedia nacional.

The train accident was a national tragedy.

Fue una tragedia que el fuego destruyera la casa familiar.

It was a tragedy that the fire destroyed the family home.

Su muerte prematura es una gran tragedia para la comunidad.

His premature death is a great tragedy for the community.

Gender Check

Remember that 'tragedia' is a feminine noun, so you must use feminine articles and adjectives with it (e.g., 'la tragedia', 'una gran tragedia').

ruina

RWE-nahˈrwi.na

nounC1informal
Use 'ruina' to describe something that has failed completely, is in terrible condition, or is practically useless, often in a less severe or more figurative sense than 'desastre'.
A detailed sandcastle on a beach that is actively crumbling as a small ocean wave washes over its base, symbolizing a terrible failure.

Examples

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

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

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

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

Desastre vs. Ruina

Learners often confuse 'desastre' and 'ruina'. Remember that 'desastre' is typically for large-scale, catastrophic events, while 'ruina' is for something that has fallen into a state of disrepair or is a complete failure in a more personal or object-based context.

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