arruinar
verbCEFR B2
What does “arruinar” mean in English?
to ruin
to ruin (arruinar + noun — cause catastrophic loss or damage; arruinarse — go bankrupt)
Example sentences
La mala gestión financiera terminó por arruinar una empresa que había sido líder del sector.
Poor financial management ended up ruining a company that had been the sector leader.
Las lluvias arruinaron por completo la cosecha y los agricultores declararon el estado de emergencia.
The rains completely ruined the harvest and farmers declared a state of emergency.
How to use it
Arruinar means 'to ruin'. Structure: arruinar + noun (ruin something); arruinarse (go bankrupt/be ruined — reflexive). Both literal (arruinar la empresa — ruin the company) and figurative (arruinar la reputación, arruinar la fiesta — ruin the party). Common across registers.
Common mistake
Arruinar (ruin — catastrophic damage or loss, broad use) vs. destruir (destroy — more physical/total) vs. echar a perder (spoil — less catastrophic, often food or plans). Arruinarse (go broke) is an important reflexive collocation.