desmoronar
/desmoɾoˈnaɾ/
To crumble in Spanish is desmoronar.
The term can be used literally to describe physical objects breaking into pieces or figuratively to describe a person's emotional state or the collapse of a system or organization. An idiom to describe a situation where everything crumbles or collapses is todo se viene abajo.
Meaning: to fall apart (verb)
Which one should you use?
The choice between forms depends on whether the action is being caused by an external agent or happening on its own. The form desmigajan is also a way to express the idea of crumbling.
How does it change in a sentence?
The non-reflexive form desmoronar is a transitive verb used when an agent is actively causing something to crumble. To describe something falling apart on its own, such as a building or a person's composure, use the reflexive form desmoronarse.
How do you pronounce it?
/desmoɾoˈnaɾ/
Did you know?
- The word desmoronar may share an ancient root with the Celtiberian word boruna, which meant 'brittle'.
- In some regions of Spain, particularly Asturias, you might hear the word esboroñar instead of the more standard desmoronar to describe something breaking into small pieces.
- While desmoronar describes a collapse, the related word miga refers to a crumb, which is also the term for the soft inside of a loaf of bread.
Examples in context
- El campanario de la iglesia está empezando a desmoronarse por el paso del tiempo.The church's steeple is beginning to crumble with age.This sentence shows how to use desmoronar when describing a structure falling apart over time.Tatoeba #12930158 by carlosalberto, translation #695215 by darinmex
- El edificio se desmoronóThe building crumbled
- La economía se desmoronóThe economy crumbled
- El queso se deshace fácilmenteThe cheese crumbles easily
- Desmenuza las galletas sobre el heladoCrumble the cookies over the ice cream
- El pastel se hizo pedazosThe cake crumbled into pieces
- El pan hace migasThe bread crumbles
- El muro se desmoronó debido al terremoto.The wall crumbled due to the earthquake.
- El castillo de arena se desmoronó con el viento, pero no se rompió.The sandcastle crumbled with the wind, but it didn't break.
- Cuando perdió su empleo, su mundo se vino abajo.When she lost her job, her world crumbled.
- Su mundo se desmoronó tras la noticia.Her world crumbled after the news.
- El muro de adobe se empezó a desmoronar.The adobe wall began to crumble.
Example conversation
Mateo and Lucía are looking at an old building.
- MateoMira esa casa, parece que se va a desmoronar.Look at that house, it looks like it's going to crumble.
- LucíaEs verdad, Mateo, está muy deteriorada.It's true, Mateo, it is very deteriorated.
- MateoEs peligroso caminar cerca de ella.It is dangerous to walk near it.
- LucíaTienes razón, Lucía dice que mejor nos alejemos.You are right, Lucía says we better move away.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry desmoronar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries desmoronar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
