Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| revoltijo | /rebolˈtixo/ | masculine |
| desbarajuste | /desbaɾaxuste/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
| desgarriate | /desɡarjate/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
| desgarreate | /desɡareate/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
| chacuatol | /t͡ʃakwatol/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
| revoltura | /rebolˈtuɾa/ | feminine |
| reguero | /reˈɡeɾo/ | masculine |
| reguera | /reˈɡeɾa/ | masculine |
The noun forms of these words describe a confused or disordered jumble of things. If you wish to describe the action of filling or overcrowding a space with clutter, you can use the verbs atestar, abarrotar or atiborrar. For example, abarrotar is a common choice to describe the act of cluttering a space.
Which one should you use?
While revoltijo is a general term for a jumble, reguero is a colloquial term used specifically to describe a mess of scattered items, such as papers or toys left on a floor. In contrast, desbarajuste carries a stronger connotation of total disorder or a breakdown of organization compared to the more neutral revoltijo.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The word desaliño is a formal term used to refer to disorder or messiness. On the other hand, reguero is a colloquial way to describe a mess.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
revoltijo is a masculine noun and requires masculine articles such as el or un.
How do you pronounce it?
/rebolˈtixo/
Did you know?
- The term desbarajuste is closely related to the word barajar, which means 'to shuffle' playing cards. To be in a state of desbarajuste is like a deck of cards that has been completely shuffled.
- The verb atiborrar used for cluttering often implies filling something to the point of bursting. It is frequently used to describe stuffing a suitcase or a stomach with food.
- In Spanish, the word revoltijo can also describe a person's state of mind, implying that their thoughts are in a jumbled or confused state.
Examples in context
- El cuarto está lleno de desorden.The room is full of clutter.
- Necesito ordenar todo este barullo.I need to organize all this clutter.
- El escritorio tiene un aspecto de total desaliño.The desk looks completely cluttered.
- Mi habitación es un lío total.My room is a complete mess.
- ¿Dónde dejé las llaves? Siempre hay un embrollo en esta casa.Where did I leave my keys? There's always clutter in this house.
- Hay un revoltijo de papeles sobre la mesa.There is a clutter of papers on the table.
- El cajón es un revoltijo de cables viejos.The drawer is a jumble of old cables.
- No puedo encontrar nada en este revoltijo.I cannot find anything in this clutter.
Example conversation
Alejandro and Sofía are cleaning the living room together.
- AlejandroMira este revoltijo de libros en la mesa.Look at this clutter of books on the table.
- SofíaLo sé, debemos organizarlos pronto.I know, we should organize them soon.
- Alejandro¿Dónde quieres que ponga todo esto?Where do you want me to put all this?
- SofíaPonlo en el estante, Alejandro.Put it on the shelf, Alejandro.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “clutter” translations and entries revoltijo, desbarajuste, desgarriate, desgarreate, chacuatol, revoltura, reguero, reguera, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
