ruina
/ˈrwina/feminine
The English word 'bane' can be translated into Spanish using several terms depending on the context, most commonly ruina. Wiktionary also lists maldición and perdición.
Meaning: cause of misery or ruin (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ruina | /ˈrwina/ | feminine |
| maldición | /maldiˈθjon/ /maldiˈsjon/ |
feminine |
| perdición | /peɾdiˈθjon/ /peɾdiˈsjon/ |
feminine |
| quebranto | /keˈbɾanto/ | masculine |
In Spanish, 'bane' is expressed through different nouns that describe a cause of misery, ruin or profound hardship.
Which one should you use?
Use maldición when the bane implies a supernatural or divine curse. Use perdición when the bane refers to a source of moral or spiritual downfall. Use quebranto when the bane refers to a source of deep emotional or physical suffering.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
All the nouns provided are either feminine (such as maldición, ruina and perdición) or masculine (such as quebranto).
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈrwina/
Did you know?
- In Spanish, describing someone as mi perdición is often used playfully or romantically to mean that person is their 'downfall' or irresistible weakness.
- The term quebranto comes from the verb 'quebrantar', which literally means 'to break', describing the way misery 'breaks' a person's spirit or health.
- While ruina translates to 'bane' or 'ruin', it is also used in Spanish to describe the physical debris of a collapsed building.
Examples in context
- Amor desmesurado, ruina y tortura de la humanidad, progenitor de batallas, fuente de lágrimas, manantial de mil males.Unconscionable Love, bane and tormentor of mankind, parent of strife, fountain of tears, source of a thousand ills.This sentence uses ruina to illustrate how the word can describe a source of torment or misery.Tatoeba #12055953 by Masatami, translation #5866992 by Hybrid
- El amor no correspondido fue su maldiciónUnrequited love was his bane
- La corrupción es una plaga para la sociedadCorruption is a bane for society
- La violencia es un flagelo para la humanidadViolence is a bane for humanity
- Los mosquitos son una molestiaMosquitoes are a bane
- Ese mal negocio fue su ruina.That bad business was his ruin.
- La mala suerte será su ruina.Bad luck will be his ruin.
Example conversation
Sofía and Mateo are discussing a failed business venture.
- SofíaEsa mala inversión fue la ruina del negocio.That bad investment was the bane of the business.
- MateoTienes razón, Sofía, perdimos todo el dinero.You are right, Sofia, we lost all the money.
- SofíaAhora tenemos que empezar desde cero, Mateo.Now we have to start from scratch, Mateo.
- MateoEspero que no cometamos el mismo error.I hope we don't make the same mistake.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bane” translations and entries ruina, maldición, perdición, quebranto, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
