Usage Note
Derrumbe comes from the verb derrumbar (to collapse, to demolish) and can refer to a physical collapse of a building or hillside, or to a figurative collapse such as an economic or political one. In Latin America it is the standard word for a landslide or rockfall; in Spain derrumbamiento is often preferred in formal writing. The verb derrumbarse (reflexive) means 'to fall apart' emotionally.
Examples
"El derrumbe bloqueó la carretera principal."
Natural Translation
The landslide blocked the main road.

Free starter pack
Building your Spanish vocabulary?
Get the 100 most common Spanish words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.
Related Words
Explore Spanish by topic