Spanish word

ilusión

Pronunciation

IPA/iluˈsjon/

Meaning

  • feminine nounhope

Example

Tengo la ilusión de viajar al extranjero el próximo año.

I hope to travel abroad next year.

Illustration for ilusión (hope)

More examples

Tengo la ilusión de viajar a Japón el próximo año.

I hope to travel to Japan next year.

Al final, sus pequeños logros alimentaron la ilusión de que todo mejoraría.

In the end, their small achievements fed the hope that everything would get better.

Core concept

Hopeful excitement about a desired outcome.

Common phrases

  • alimentar la ilusión de

    feed the hope that

  • tener la ilusión de

    harbor the hope that

Similar words

esperanza: Longstanding wish combined with belief that the outcome will occur.
expectativa: Anticipatory belief about the likely outcome of an event.
anticipación: Heightened eagerness caused by the approach of a known event.

Definition in Spanish

Estado de ánimo alegre y esperanzado ante la posibilidad de que ocurra algo deseado.

Word origin

Derived from Latin illūsiō (from illudere 'to mock'), which originally means mockery and later develops in Spanish into eager expectation.

Usage tips

  • The phrase me hace ilusión means 'it excites me' or 'it makes me look forward to something', a conversational use that does not mean deception.

Other meanings

  • fantasynoun
  • illusionnoun

Opposites

  • desilusióndisappointmentnoun
  • desengañodisenchantmentnoun

Related words

  • ilusionarraise hopesverb
  • ilusionantehope-inspiringadjective

Word lists with this word