Spanish Conversation · Level 94
59 words
Spanish word
desorientar
Pronunciation
IPA/desoɾjenˈtaɾ/
Meaning
- verbconfuse
Example
Su respuesta me desorientó y no supe qué decir.
His answer confused me and I didn't know what to say.
More examples
Me desorienté con las indicaciones.
I got confused by the directions.
Core concept
Person standing at a foggy intersection with a tilted street sign.
Common phrases
desorientar a alguien
confuse someone
desorientarse en un lugar
get disoriented in a place
Similar words
confundir: Creates intellectual confusion by mixing up information, blocking clear judgment.
despistar: Plants wrong information or distractions to throw off someone's course or attention.
desconcertar: Rattles someone's emotions or poise, making normal behavior awkward.
aturdir: Numbs or overloads someone's senses so reactions and thinking slow down.
Definition in Spanish
Causar que alguien no sepa dónde está o qué debe hacer, ya sea por perderse físicamente o por quedar confundido mentalmente.
Word origin
Formed from des- 'not' plus orientar 'to orient', with orientar from Latin orientare 'to face east', so the verb means to remove or disturb a person's sense of direction.
Usage tips
- When the subject becomes confused Spanish normally uses the reflexive desorientarse (Me desorienté), while desorientar plus a person means causing that confusion.
Other meanings
- disorientverb
Opposites
- orientarorientverb
Related words
- desorientacióndisorientationnoun
- desorientadodisorientedadjective