Spanish Conversation · Level 47
75 words
Spanish word
desaparición
Pronunciation
IPA/desapaɾiˈθjon/
Meaning
- feminine noundisappearance
Example
La policía investiga la desaparición del vecino.
The police are investigating the neighbor's disappearance.
More examples
La desaparición del testigo complicó el juicio.
The disappearance of the witness complicated the trial.
Core concept
An empty spot where a person or object was expected.
Common phrases
la desaparición de
the disappearance of
caso de desaparición
case of disappearance
desaparición repentina
sudden disappearance
Similar words
ausencia: Situation of someone expected to be present but absent from their usual place.
secuestro: Crime of taking and confining a person by force or deception.
paradero: A person's current location or the place where they can be found.
Definition in Spanish
Estado en que una persona, animal u objeto deja de ser visible o localizable; circunstancia de no saberse dónde está.
Word origin
From Spanish desaparecer (des- 'not' + aparecer 'to appear'), with the noun-forming suffix -ción to denote the state of no longer being visible or locatable.
Usage tips
- In news and official reports use desaparición, while in everyday speech speakers often say se ha ido or se perdió.
Other meanings
- vanishingnoun
Related words
- desaparecerdisappearverb
- desaparecidomissingadjective
- desaparecimientodisappearancenoun