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"Terremoto" is a noun which is often translated as "earthquake", and "temblor" is a noun which is often translated as "shaking". Learn more about the difference between "terremoto" and "temblor" below.
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.
el temblor(
tehm
-
blohr
)A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
1. (quivering)
a. shaking
El temblor de la viga del rascacielos los puso nerviosos a todos los obreros.The construction workers were all made nervous by the shaking of the beam in the skyscraper.
b. trembling
Un síntoma de la enfermedad es un temblor incontrolable de los miembros.One symptom of the disease is an uncontrollable trembling of the limbs.
c. shivering
Debes ver a un doctor porque el temblor puede ser un síntoma de algo mucho más grave que un resfriado.You should go to a doctor because shivering can be a symptom of something much more serious than a cold.
a. earthquake
Casi toda mi propiedad fue dañada en el temblor más reciente.Almost all of my property was damaged in the most recent earthquake.
b. tremor
Mi madre no puede vivir más en California, porque cada pequeño temblor le da un susto de muerte.My mother cannot live in California anymore because every small tremor scares her to death.
