What is the definition of the Spanish word "desastre"?

The Spanish word "desastre" is defined as: "A sudden and unexpected event that causes great damage or harm."

Translation of Spanish word "desastre" to English

desastre

/de.sa.sre/

Objects & Things B1

Meaning

Noun

A sudden and unexpected event that causes great damage or harm.

Reviewed by the TheLernen language teamDefinition sourced from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0)Last updated: June 16, 2026

How to use

Desastre ('disaster / mess') is masculine. Desastre natural — Natural disaster. Ser un desastre — To be a mess / disaster (person or situation).

🇬🇧 English

disaster

Example

El desastre natural causó daños importantes en la ciudad.

The natural disaster caused significant damage to the city.

El desastre económico afectó negativamente a la economía del país.

The economic disaster had a negative impact on the country's economy.

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Synonyms

catastrophe / disastertragedy

Common phrases

desastre natural— natural disaster
ser un desastre— to be a mess / disaster

More Objects & Things words

madera semilla hoja rama fruto literatura poesía leyenda personaje escena espectáculo concierto

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Frequency rank: #1367 in Spanish

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Spanish word "desastre" mean?▼

The Spanish word "desastre" means "disaster" in English.

How do you pronounce the Spanish word "desastre"?▼

You can hear the correct audio pronunciation of the word "desastre" by clicking the play button next to the word at the top of this page.

Can I see an example sentence with "desastre"?▼

Yes, here is a practical example: "El desastre natural causó daños importantes en la ciudad." (which translates as "The natural disaster caused significant damage to the city.").