How to Say "ruin" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “ruin” is “ruina” — use 'ruina' when referring to the remains of a destroyed building or structure, or for a state of financial or moral collapse..
ruina
RWE-nahˈrwi.na
Examples
Visitamos las ruinas de la antigua civilización maya.
We visited the ruins of the ancient Mayan civilization.
Después del terremoto, solo quedó una ruina de la iglesia.
After the earthquake, only a ruin remained of the church.
La crisis llevó a muchos pequeños negocios a la ruina.
The crisis led many small businesses to ruin.
Su adicción al juego fue su ruina personal.
His gambling addiction was his personal downfall.
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.)
destrucción
Examples
La destrucción del edificio fue causada por el fuego.
The destruction of the building was caused by the fire.
destruir
des-TROO-eer/desˈtɾwiɾ/
Examples
El terremoto destruyó muchos edificios antiguos.
The earthquake destroyed many old buildings.
Tuvimos que destruir la evidencia antes de que llegara la policía.
We had to destroy the evidence before the police arrived.
El fuego destruyó completamente el bosque en pocas horas.
The fire completely destroyed the forest in a few hours.
Sus mentiras destruyeron la confianza de sus amigos.
His lies ruined his friends' trust (confidence).
Irregular 'Y' Ending
In the present tense and subjunctive, the 'i' in the root changes to a 'y' when it is next to a vowel and is unstressed (e.g., 'yo destruyo'). This is the main irregularity.
Using the Reflexive Form (Destruirse)
When you use 'destruirse,' it means the subject is destroying or ruining itself. This is common when talking about self-sabotage or self-harm (e.g., 'Él se está destruyendo con el trabajo').
Forgetting the 'y' change
Mistake: “Yo destruo (incorrect)”
Correction: Yo destruyo. Remember the 'y' sound helps smooth the pronunciation when the 'i' is weak.
quiebra
/KYEH-brah//ˈkje.βɾa/
Examples
La aerolínea se declaró en quiebra después de la crisis.
The airline declared bankruptcy after the crisis.
Muchos negocios pequeños temen la quiebra.
Many small businesses fear bankruptcy.
Using the word 'en'
To say a company is 'bankrupt,' Spanish uses the phrase 'en quiebra' (in bankruptcy) rather than using it as a simple adjective.
Quiebra vs. Bancarrota
Mistake: “Using 'bancarrota' exclusively.”
Correction: While 'bancarrota' is understood, 'quiebra' is the more standard legal and professional term in most Spanish-speaking countries.
quemar
keh-MAHR/keˈmaɾ/
Examples
No le digas nada, ¡no quemes la película!
Don't tell him anything, don't spoil the movie!
El escándalo quemó su carrera política.
The scandal ruined his political career.
Figurative Damage
Think of this meaning as causing severe, irreparable damage to something non-physical, like a reputation or a secret.
Noun vs. Verb for 'Ruin'
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