How to Say "pestilence" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “pestilence” is “peste” — use 'peste' when referring to a widespread, fatal epidemic disease, especially historical ones like the plague..
peste
/pess-teh//ˈpeste/
Examples
La peste negra acabó con millones de personas en Europa.
The Black Death (plague) killed millions of people in Europe.
Hubo una peste que afectó a todo el ganado.
There was a plague that affected all the livestock.
Talking about history
When talking about the famous historical 'Black Death,' we always say 'La Peste Negra.'
plaga
/PLAH-gah//ˈpla.ɣa/
Examples
La plaga de langostas destruyó toda la cosecha.
The plague of locusts destroyed the entire harvest.
Necesitamos un exterminador para deshacernos de esta plaga de cucarachas.
We need an exterminator to get rid of this cockroach infestation.
La zona rural sufrió una plaga de mosquitos este verano.
The rural area suffered a mosquito plague this summer.
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).
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.
Peste vs. Plaga
Related Translations
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