rovinare

to ruin; to spoil

verb roh-vee-NAH-reh Rare

Origin: Latin ruina (collapse, ruin)

Usage Note

Rovinare means to damage, spoil, or destroy — an object, a relationship, or a mood. The reflexive rovinarsi means 'to ruin oneself' (financially or in health): si è rovinato con il gioco = 'he ruined himself through gambling'. It takes avere when transitive and essere when reflexive. The noun rovina means 'ruin/disaster', and rovine (plural) = ancient ruins.

Examples

"La pioggia ha rovinato la festa."

Natural Translation

The rain ruined the party.

Literal Translation

The rain has ruined the party.

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