Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
RUIN in Spanish: ARRUINAR
Arruinar · verb · ah-rroo-ee-NAHR
The verb ruin translates to arruinar in Spanish, covering the full range of English meanings: to destroy, to spoil, or to financially bankrupt. The noun form is ruina (a ruin) or ruinas (ruins, as in ancient ruins). A common colloquial alternative is echar a perder, which leans toward 'spoil' or 'ruin' in the sense of wasting something. Arruinar works for dramatic situations (arruinar una vida = ruin a life) and everyday frustrations (arruinar una sorpresa = ruin a surprise) alike.
ah-rroo-ee-NAHR
La lluvia arruinó nuestros planes para el picnic del sábado.
The rain ruined our plans for Saturday's picnic.
Ruin in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for ruin, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| arruinar | ruin | ah-rroo-ee-NAHR | Default, widely understood |
| ruina | ruin | noun form: a ruin/ruins | |
| echar a perder | ruin | to ruin/spoil something |
How Native Speakers Use Arruinar
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Spoiling a surprise
¡No me cuentes el final! No quiero que arruines la película.
Don't tell me the ending! I don't want you to ruin the movie.
Arruinar here means to spoil by revealing information.
Financial ruin
La mala inversión casi lo arruina económicamente.
The bad investment nearly ruined him financially.
Arruinar in a financial context means to bankrupt or devastate financially.
Ancient ruins
Visitamos las ruinas mayas durante nuestro viaje a Guatemala.
We visited the Mayan ruins during our trip to Guatemala.
Ruinas (plural noun) refers to the remains of ancient structures.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Arruinar
Using ruinar instead of arruinar
Incorrect: No quiero ruinar la fiesta.
Correct: No quiero arruinar la fiesta.
The correct verb in Spanish is arruinar (with the a- prefix), not ruinar. Dropping the prefix is a common error influenced by the shorter English form.
Confusing ruina (noun) with arruinar (verb)
Incorrect: La tormenta ruina el jardín.
Correct: La tormenta arruinó el jardín.
Ruina is a noun meaning 'ruin' or 'downfall.' The verb form is arruinar, which must be conjugated: arruinó (past tense, third person).
Lock in Ruin Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.
See Arruinar used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using arruinar in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear La lluvia arruinó nuestros planes para el picnic del sábado. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
Save, review, repeat, stay consistent
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Common Questions About Ruin in Spanish
- What is the difference between arruinar and echar a perder?
- Arruinar suggests complete destruction or serious damage—financial ruin, ruined plans, a destroyed relationship. Echar a perder (literally 'to throw away') leans toward spoiling or wasting—food going bad, a surprise being spoiled, or an opportunity being wasted. Both translate to 'ruin' in English, but echar a perder is milder and more colloquial.
- How do you say 'ancient ruins' in Spanish?
- Ancient ruins are called ruinas antiguas or simply ruinas. Famous examples include las ruinas de Machu Picchu, las ruinas mayas de Tikal, and las ruinas romanas de Mérida. The word ruinas always appears in plural when describing archaeological remains.
- Is arruinar a regular verb?
- Arruinar is a regular -ar verb with one notable feature: the u and i create a diphthong that some learners find tricky to pronounce. Conjugation follows standard patterns: yo arruino, tú arruinas, él arruina, nosotros arruinamos. No stem changes or irregularities apply.