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"Ruin" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "arruinar", and "spoil" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "echar a perder". Learn more about the difference between "ruin" and "spoil" below.
ruin(
ru
-
ihn
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to damage)
b. echar a perder
Sandra ruined her homework by accidentally spilling coffee on it.Sandra echó a perder su tarea al derramarle café encima por accidente.
d. echar por tierra
Cheer up! Don't let this small accident ruin your birthday party.¡Ánimo! No dejes que este pequeño incidente eche por tierra tu fiesta de cumpleaños.
e. destruir
The coat of paint ruined the piano. It is not as loud as it used to be.La mano de pintura destruyó el piano. Ya no suena tan fuerte como antes.
A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
2. (demise)
a. la perdición (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
His temper is going to be his ruin.Su mal genio va a ser su perdición.
3. (finance)
a. la bancarrota (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
The president's policies are leading the country to ruin.Las políticas del presidente están llevando el país a la bancarrota.
ruins
A plural noun indicates that there is more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
a. las ruinas (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Last year we visited the ruins of Machu Picchu.El año pasado visitamos las ruinas de Machu Picchu.
spoil(
spoyl
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to ruin)
a. echar a perder
She spoiled the surprise when she told everyone what was happening.Ella echó a perder la sorpresa cuando le dijo a todo el mundo lo que estaba sucediendo.
b. estropear
Please go away. You're spoiling my fun with your bad attitude.Por favor, vete. Me estás estropeando la diversión con tu mala actitud.
c. arruinar
Alexa spoiled her sister's plans when she asked Eric out on a date.Alexa arruinó los planes de su hermana cuando invitó a Eric a salir.
2. (to pamper)
b. consentir
My husband loves to spoil me on special occasions.A mi marido le encanta consentirme en ocasiones especiales.
c. malcriar (children)
Don't spoil your kids so much, or they will grow up to be brats.No malcríes a tus hijos tanto o se convertirán en unos mocosos consentidos.
a. invalidar
Thousands of voters spoiled their ballots in protest of the dearth of choices.Miles de votantes invalidaron sus papeletas en protesta por la falta de opciones.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
4. (to go bad)
a. estropearse
If we leave the vegetables in the refrigerator for too long, they are going to spoil.Si dejamos las verduras en el refrigerador demasiado tiempo, se van a estropear.
b. echarse a perder
The leftovers that I was going to eat tonight are already spoiled.Las sobras que me iba a comer esta noche ya se echaron a perder.
b. estar deseando
Look out. Fred just walked in, and he looks like he's spoiling for a fight.Ten cuidado. Fred acaba de entrar y parece que está deseando tener una pelea.
spoils
A plural noun indicates that there is more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
6. (loot)
