Spanish word

desmayo

Pronunciation

IPA/desˈmaʝo/

Meaning

  • masculine nounfainting spell

Example

Cuando vio la sangre, sufrió un desmayo.

When she saw the blood, she had a fainting spell.

Illustration for desmayo (fainting spell)

More examples

Sufrió un desmayo en la estación por el calor.

They suffered a fainting spell at the station because of the heat.

Core concept

Brief loss of consciousness with sudden loss of muscle tone.

Common phrases

  • sufrir un desmayo

    suffer a fainting spell

  • tener un desmayo

    have a fainting spell

Similar words

mareo: Lightheaded, spinning feeling or unsteady equilibrium that makes standing hard.
síncope: Sudden short loss of consciousness caused by transient reduced cerebral blood flow.
desvanecimiento: Momentary fading of consciousness and concentration, leaving attention foggy.

Definition in Spanish

Estado breve de inconsciencia por pérdida del tono corporal y de la percepción, de carácter pasajero.

Word origin

From the Spanish verb desmayar 'to faint', ultimately from Old French desmaier/esmaier meaning to lose strength, so desmayo names a fainting spell.

Usage tips

  • The verb usually appears reflexively as desmayarse, and conversational Spanish often adds a cause with por (Se desmayó por el calor) to explain the faint.

Opposites

Related words

  • desmayarfaintverb
  • desmayadounconsciousadjective

Word lists with this word