Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| desacuerdo | /desaˈkweɾdo/ | masculine |
| desavenencia | /desabeˈnenθja/ /desabeˈnensja/ |
feminine |
| desencuentro | /desenˈkwentɾo/ | masculine |
To express the state of disagreeing with someone, Spanish speakers typically use the phrase estar en desacuerdo (to be in disagreement) rather than a single verb.
What does it mean word for word?
The word desacuerdo is composed of the prefix des- (un-/dis-) and acuerdo (agreement).
Which one should you use?
Desacuerdo is the most common and neutral term for a disagreement, whereas desavenencia often implies a more serious or long-standing rift between people. Desencuentro literally means a 'lack of an encounter' and is often used to describe a clash of opinions or a failure to reach a common understanding, rather than a direct argument.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In many Latin American countries, No estoy de acuerdo is a commonly used way of expressing disagreement. In Spain, one may use No estoy de acuerdo contigo en absoluto to add emphasis to a disagreement.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word desavenencia is a feminine noun and must be used with feminine articles like la or una.
How do you pronounce it?
{'ipa': '/desaˈkweɾdo/'}
Did you know?
- The word desencuentro comes from desencontrarse, which also describes the frustrating experience of looking for someone in a crowd and missing them by seconds.
- The word desacuerdo is a direct cognate of the rare English word 'disaccord', though it is the standard way to say 'disagreement' in Spanish.
Examples in context
- Nosotros teníamos un pequeño desacuerdo acerca de eso.We had quite a disagreement about it.This sentence is useful for seeing how to use the word desacuerdo to describe a small disagreement.Tatoeba #5379440 by Omnivoro, translation #5379382 by sundown
- Hubo un desacuerdo entre los socios.There was a disagreement between the partners.
- Su desacuerdo fue inevitable durante la reunión.Their disagreement was inevitable during the meeting.
Example conversation
Lucía and Javier are discussing a decision at work.
- LucíaJavier, ¿por qué hay tanto desacuerdo en el equipo?Javier, why is there so much disagreement in the team?
- JavierEs por el nuevo plan de ventas, Lucía.It is because of the new sales plan, Lucía.
- LucíaEntiendo, tenemos que resolver este desacuerdo pronto.I understand, we have to resolve this disagreement soon.
- JavierTienes razón, busquemos una solución.You are right, let's find a solution.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “disagreement” translations and entries desacuerdo, desavenencia, desencuentro, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries desacuerdo, desavenencia, desencuentro, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
