Spanish word

desencanto

Pronunciation

IPA/deseŋˈkanto/

Meaning

  • masculine noundisillusionment

Example

Después de la noticia, sentí desencanto.

After the news, I felt disillusionment.

Illustration for desencanto (disillusionment)

More examples

Muchos jóvenes tienen desencanto con la política.

Many young people are disillusioned with politics.

Core concept

A person standing apart from something they once loved.

Common phrases

  • sentir desencanto

    feel disillusionment

  • tener desencanto con

    be disillusioned with

  • mostrar desencanto

    show disillusionment

Similar words

desilusión: Disappointment when hopes or illusions dissolve and reality fails to match expectations.
decepción: Disappointment caused by a specific unmet expectation, promise, or failure to deliver.
desengaño: Bitter realization after discovering an unpleasant truth that shatters trust or belief.

Definition in Spanish

Noción de desilusión por pérdida de encanto que lleva a apatía o distancia frente a aquello que antes gustaba.

Word origin

Derived from the prefix des- 'not' plus encanto 'charm', the word expresses removal of a former enchantment.

Usage tips

  • Unlike decepción, which often marks a specific letdown, desencanto implies growing apathy or emotional distancing over time.

Other meanings

  • disappointmentnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • desencantardisenchantverb
  • desencantadodisenchantedadjective
  • desencantamientodisenchantmentnoun

Word lists with this word