ruin
in ruins
Definition & meaning
Ruin is a Spanish adjective meaning:
-
Mean, vile, or despicable
It describes someone whose behavior is morally bad or contemptible.- Es una persona ruin. — “He/She is a despicable person.”
-
Stingy or miserly
It can describe someone unwilling to spend or share money.- Es muy ruin y nunca invita a nadie. — “He/She is very stingy and never treats anyone.”
-
Run-down, dilapidated, or in very poor condition
Usually used for buildings, objects, or material situations.- Vivían en una casa ruin. — “They lived in a run-down house.”
The exact meaning depends on context: when describing a person, it usually refers to moral meanness or stinginess; when describing a thing, it often means dilapidated or defective.
Grammar & Word origin
Ruin is an adjective with two forms:
- Masculine singular: ruin
- Feminine singular: ruin
- Masculine and feminine plural: ruines
Examples:
- un hombre ruin — “a despicable man”
- una mujer ruin — “a despicable woman”
- personas ruines — “despicable people”
It is pronounced approximately roo-EEN, with the two vowels pronounced in separate syllables. It comes from Latin ruīnus, related to ruina (“ruin” or “collapse”).
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonyms
- vil — “vile”; emphasizes serious moral depravity.
- despreciable — “despicable”; focuses on being worthy of contempt.
- mezquino — “mean” or “petty”; often refers to a narrow, ungenerous attitude.
- tacaño — “stingy”; specifically focuses on unwillingness to spend money.
- miserable — can mean “wretched,” “mean,” or “miserly,” depending on context.
- deteriorado — “deteriorated”; applies to physical objects or places, unlike the moral sense of ruin.
Antonyms
- noble — “noble,” especially in moral character.
- generoso — “generous,” the opposite of the stingy sense.
- honrado — “honest” or “upright.”
- decente — “decent” or respectable.
- bueno — “good”; a broad opposite when ruin describes bad character.
- conservado — “well-preserved,” an opposite of the physical sense “run-down.”
Common phrases & collocations
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Examples
El castillo antiguo está casi totalmente en ruinas.other
The old castle is almost completely in ruins.
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