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"Sismo" is a noun which is often translated as "earthquake", and "terremoto" is a noun which is also often translated as "earthquake". Learn more about the difference between "sismo" and "terremoto" below.
el sismo(
sees
-
moh
)A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
1. (geology)
a. earthquake
La magnitud del sismo ayer fue de 5 grados en la escala de Richter.The magnitude of yesterday's earthquake registered 5.0 on the Richter scale.
el terremoto(
teh
-
rreh
-
moh
-
toh
)A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
a. earthquake
Un terremoto destruyó gran parte del centro histórico.An earthquake destroyed a large part of the historical part of the city center.
b. quake (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Hubo un terremoto en San Francisco.There was a quake in San Francisco.
2. (figurative) (menace)
A phrase used as a figure of speech or a word that is symbolic in meaning; metaphorical (e.g., carrot, bean).
a. terror (figurative)
A phrase used as a figure of speech or a word that is symbolic in meaning; metaphorical (e.g., carrot, bean).
Mi sobrina es un terremoto; siempre termina rompiendo algo cuando viene de visita.My niece is a terror; she always ends up breaking something when she visits.
