Spanish · Nature, Animals & Weather
"Earthquake" in Spanish: terremoto
el terremoto
An earthquake is el terremoto (teh-rreh-MOH-toh). It is masculine: el terremoto, un terremoto. People also say temblor for a tremor. Practice simple safety lines with terremoto.
News headline
Hubo un terremoto anoche.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce terremoto
Say it
teh-rreh-MOH-toh
/tereˈmoto/
teh-rreh-MOH-toh. Stress MOH. Rolled rr. Keep terremoto in four beats.
"Earthquake" in Spanish: quick reference
| Spanish | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| el terremoto | the earthquake Standard noun. | Standard noun. |
| un terremoto | an earthquake One event. | One event. |
| temblor | tremor / quake Often a lighter shake; related talk. | Often a lighter shake; related talk. |
| alerta de terremoto | earthquake alert Phone and radio warnings. | Phone and radio warnings. |
How to use terremoto in real life
- 1News headline
Hubo un terremoto anoche.
There was an earthquake last night.
Un terremoto for one event.
- 2Safety drill
En un terremoto, agáchate bajo la mesa.
In an earthquake, duck under the table.
En un terremoto starts the tip.
- 3Checking on someone
¿Sentiste el terremoto?
Did you feel the earthquake?
El terremoto in a check-in.
Mistakes English speakers make with terremoto
Incorrect: La terremoto fue fuerte.
Correct: El terremoto fue fuerte.
Terremoto is masculine: el terremoto.
Incorrect: Hubo un earthquake ayer.
Correct: Hubo un terremoto ayer.
Use terremoto, not English earthquake.
Good to know
Pacific Latin America practices drills for el terremoto. Phone alerts and school drop-cover-hold routines use clear words like terremoto and temblor so everyone moves fast.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
After a small shake at home
ChatPal
¿Sentiste el terremoto?
Did you feel the earthquake?
You
Sí. El terremoto fue corto.
Yes. The earthquake was short.
ChatPal
Revisemos si hay grietas.
Let's check if there are cracks.
You
Voy a mirar la cocina.
I'll look at the kitchen.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Earthquake" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Earthquake" in Spanish
Is terremoto masculine?
Yes: el terremoto, un terremoto.
Terremoto or temblor?
Terremoto is the full quake word. Temblor often means a tremor.
How do you pronounce terremoto?
teh-rreh-MOH-toh with stress on MOH.
How do I ask if someone felt it?
¿Sentiste el terremoto?
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
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