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How to Say "wreck" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “wreck” is “destruir” — use 'destruir' when 'wreck' means to ruin or destroy something abstract, like a career, a reputation, or a relationship..

English → Spanish

destruir

des-TROO-eer/desˈtɾwiɾ/

verbB2general
Use 'destruir' when 'wreck' means to ruin or destroy something abstract, like a career, a reputation, or a relationship.
A beautiful, delicate, glowing blue glass sphere lying on a surface, cracked and shattered into many small pieces, symbolizing broken hopes.

Examples

Sus mentiras destruyeron la confianza de sus amigos.

His lies ruined his friends' trust (confidence).

La crisis económica destruyó miles de empleos.

The economic crisis destroyed thousands of jobs.

Si sigues bebiendo así, te vas a destruir.

If you keep drinking like that, you are going to destroy yourself (ruin your life).

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').

ruina

RWE-nahˈrwi.na

nounC1informal
Use 'ruina' when 'wreck' refers to a physical object that is broken, dilapidated, or in very poor condition.
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.

Destruir vs. Ruina

Learners often confuse 'destruir' and 'ruina' by using the verb 'destruir' for broken objects. Remember that 'destruir' is for abstract destruction, while 'ruina' describes a physical object that is falling apart.

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