Spanish word

desilusión

Pronunciation

IPA/desiluˈsjon/

Meaning

  • feminine noundisappointment

Example

Sentí una gran desilusión cuando cancelaron el concierto.

I felt a great disappointment when they canceled the concert.

Illustration for desilusión (disappointment)

More examples

La noticia causó desilusión entre los estudiantes.

The news caused disappointment among the students.

Core concept

Popped balloon labeled 'plan'.

Common phrases

  • sentir desilusión

    experience disappointment

  • causar desilusión

    cause disappointment

  • tener desilusión

    harbor disappointment

Similar words

decepción: Happens when expectations are betrayed, producing a strong feeling of being let down.
frustración: Builds from blocked plans or goals, causing tense irritation and impatience.
desengaño: Follows the shattering of an illusion, revealing an unwelcome reality and sober disappointment.
desaliento: Drains motivation and courage, leaving a dispirited, low-energy state.

Definition in Spanish

Sentimiento de tristeza o desencanto que resulta de ver que una ilusión, plan o proyecto no llega a realizarse.

Word origin

A compound of the negative prefix des- and ilusión, where ilusión derives from Latin illusio 'deception', so the word names the feeling when an expected or imagined outcome collapses.

Usage tips

  • Common collocation uses con to mark the target of the feeling (desilusión con alguien, desilusión con algo), highlighting who or what caused the loss of hope.

Other meanings

  • disillusionmentnoun
  • letdownnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • desilusionardisappointverb
  • desilusionadodisappointedadjective
  • desilusionantedisappointingadjective

Word lists with this word