plaga
plague
noun PLAH-gah Rare
Origin: Latin plaga (blow, wound, region).
Also means
pest
Usage Note
Plaga covers both a biblical or historical plague (las diez plagas) and a modern infestation of insects or pests (una plaga de langostas). In everyday Spanish it also refers informally to any overwhelming nuisance: una plaga de turistas. It is distinct from epidemia (epidemic), which is reserved for human disease.
Examples
"La plaga de insectos destruyó la cosecha."
Natural Translation
The insect plague destroyed the harvest.
Related Words
Explore Spanish by topic