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How to Say "plague" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “plague” is “plaga” — use 'plaga' when referring to a widespread infestation of insects or animals that damage crops or property, or metaphorically for a troublesome occurrence..

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plaga

/PLAH-gah//ˈpla.ɣa/

nounB1general
Use 'plaga' when referring to a widespread infestation of insects or animals that damage crops or property, or metaphorically for a troublesome occurrence.
Several brown and black rats gathered closely together, symbolizing a historical plague or infestation.

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

/pess-teh//ˈpeste/

nounB1general
Use 'peste' specifically for a severe, contagious epidemic disease, most famously the historical Black Death.
A historical doctor wearing a long-beaked mask and a dark cloak.

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.'

Peste vs. Plaga

The most common mistake is using 'peste' for insect infestations. Remember that 'plaga' is for swarms of pests like locusts or rodents, while 'peste' is reserved for serious epidemic diseases.

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