The Word “Ruin”: Meaning, Usage, and Translations Across 30 Languages
Meaning of “Ruin”
The word “ruin” can be used both as a noun and a verb, and it refers to a state of destruction, damage, or downfall. It describes the condition when something has been severely harmed, often beyond repair. Ruin is frequently associated with physical structures, people’s lives, or entire civilizations. It can also represent the result of an event or action that has led to complete loss or collapse.
- As a Noun:
As a noun, “ruin” refers to the remains of something that has been destroyed or severely damaged, or the state of being completely destroyed.- Example: “The ruins of the ancient castle still stand on the hill.”
- As a Verb:
As a verb, “ruin” means to destroy or severely damage something, often resulting in irreversible harm or loss.- Example: “The fire completely ruined the old library.”
- Figurative Usage:
Ruin is often used metaphorically to describe the total collapse or downfall of a person, business, reputation, or situation.- Example: “The scandal ruined his career.”
Usage of “Ruin” in Different Contexts
- Physical Destruction:
“The earthquake reduced the building to ruins.”
Here, ruins refers to the remains of a building that has been destroyed. - Economic Collapse:
“The economic crisis led to the ruin of many small businesses.”
In this case, ruin refers to the complete financial collapse or destruction of businesses. - Personal Downfall:
“His addiction to gambling led to the ruin of his family.”
Ruin here refers to the personal, social, and emotional destruction caused by gambling. - Reputation:
“The scandal will likely bring about the ruin of his political career.”
In this example, ruin is used figuratively to describe the destruction of one’s reputation. - Natural Ruin:
“The floodwaters caused significant ruin to the crops.”
In this case, ruin refers to the damage caused to the crops by natural forces like floods.
Translations of “Ruin” in 30 Languages
The concept of ruin—whether it refers to destruction, collapse, or devastation—has equivalents in many languages. Below are translations of “ruin” in 30 languages, along with example sentences showing how the word is used.
| Language | Translation | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| English | Ruin | “The storm left the town in ruins.” |
| Spanish | Ruina | “El huracán dejó la ciudad en ruinas.” (The hurricane left the city in ruins.) |
| French | Ruine | “La guerre a causé la ruine de la civilisation.” (The war caused the ruin of the civilization.) |
| German | Ruine | “Die Ruine des alten Schlosses ist noch sichtbar.” (The ruins of the old castle are still visible.) |
| Italian | Rovina | “Il terremoto ha causato la rovina dell’edificio.” (The earthquake caused the ruin of the building.) |
| Portuguese | Ruína | “O incêndio causou a ruína da empresa.” (The fire caused the ruin of the company.) |
| Russian | Руина (Ruina) | “После войны город оказался в руинах.” (After the war, the city was in ruins.) |
| Chinese | 毁灭 (Huǐmiè) | “火灾摧毁了古老的建筑，留下了毁灭的痕迹。” (The fire destroyed the ancient building, leaving ruin in its wake.) |
| Japanese | 廃墟 (Haikyo) | “地震で街が廃墟となった。” (The city became a ruin after the earthquake.) |
| Korean | 폐허 (Pyeheo) | “홍수는 농작물에 큰 폐허를 남겼다.” (The flood left significant ruin to the crops.) |
| Hindi | तबाही (Tabahi) | “भूकंप ने शहर को तबाही में बदल दिया।” (The earthquake turned the city into ruin.) |
| Bengali | ধ্বংস (Dhôngsho) | “এই বন্যা ফসলের ধ্বংস ঘটিয়েছে।” (The flood caused the ruin of the crops.) |
| Turkish | Yıkım | “Sel, tarlalarda büyük yıkıma neden oldu.” (The flood caused great ruin to the fields.) |
| Dutch | Ruïne | “De ruïne van het oude kasteel is nog steeds te zien.” (The ruins of the old castle are still visible.) |
| Swedish | Ruin | “Jordbävningen orsakade ruiner överallt.” (The earthquake caused ruins everywhere.) |
| Norwegian | Ruin | “Den økonomiske kollapsen førte til ruin for mange små bedrifter.” (The economic collapse led to ruin for many small businesses.) |
| Greek | Ερείπιο (Ereipio) | “Ο πόλεμος άφησε την πόλη σε ερείπια.” (The war left the city in ruins.) |
| Polish | Ruina | “Zniszczenia wojenne doprowadziły do ruiny całej wioski.” (The war damage led to the ruin of the entire village.) |
| Czech | Zkáza | “Ekonomická krize vedla k zkáze mnoha podniků.” (The economic crisis led to the ruin of many businesses.) |
| Finnish | Tuho | “Tulva aiheutti valtavaa tuhoa viljelyksille.” (The flood caused massive ruin to the crops.) |
| Hungarian | Romok | “A háború után a város teljesen romokban hevert.” (After the war, the city lay in complete ruin.) |
| Hebrew | חורבן (Churban) | “המלחמה גרמה לחורבן העיר.” (The war caused the ruin of the city.) |
| Thai | ความพินาศ (Khwām Phināt) | “อุทกภัยทำให้เกิด ความพินาศ ในพื้นที่เกษตรกรรม.” (The flood caused ruin in the agricultural area.) |
| Indonesian | Kerusakan | “Gempa bumi menyebabkan kerusakan besar di kota.” (The earthquake caused great ruin in the city.) |
| Malay | Kemusnahan | “Tsunami menyebabkan kemusnahan pada rumah-rumah.” (The tsunami caused ruin to the houses.) |
| Vietnamese | Sự tàn phá | “Cuộc chiến đã để lại sự tàn phá khắp nơi.” (The war left ruin everywhere.) |
| Ukrainian | Руїна (Ruiyna) | “Війна залишила місто в руїнах.” (The war left the city in ruins.) |
| Romanian | Ruina | “Războiul a adus ruina economiei.” (The war brought the ruin of the economy.) |
| Swahili | Uharibifu | “Tsunami ilileta uharibifu mkubwa.” (The tsunami caused significant ruin.) |
| Persian | ویرانی (Virani) | “سیل باعث ویرانی بسیاری از مزارع شد.” (The flood caused ruin to many farms.) |
| Malayalam | നശിപ്പ് (Nashippu) | “ചുഴലിക്കാറ്റ് ഗ്രാമം പൂർണ്ണമായും നശിപ്പിച്ചു.” (The cyclone completely ruined the village.) |
| Tamil | அழிவு (Azivu) | “போடோழிக்கட்டாய அழிவு ஏற்படுத்தியது.” (The war caused a total ruin.) |
| Arabic | دمار (Damar) | “الزلزال خلف المدينة في دمار.” (The earthquake left the city in ruin.) |
The word “ruin” carries a powerful meaning, referring to the total destruction or collapse of something, whether it be physical, emotional, or societal. It is used in various contexts to describe the damage caused by natural disasters, wars, financial crises, or personal downfall. Across languages, “ruin” holds a similar weight, evoking images of devastation and irreversible loss. Whether in historical, cultural, or everyday contexts, ruin remains a term with universal significance, reminding us of the fragility of things we often take for granted.
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