decepcionante
/deθebθjoˈnante/
The English word 'disappointing' is translated into Spanish as decepcionante.
decepcionante is an adjective used to describe something that disappoints or disappoint (adj).
Meaning: that disappoints or disappoint (adj)
Which one should you use?
It is important to distinguish between the cause and the person feeling the emotion. Use decepcionante to describe the thing that causes the feeling (the cause), but use decepcionado to describe a person who feels the disappointment (the person). Additionally, the noun form of this adjective is decepción.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective decepcionante is gender-neutral and does not change its ending based on whether the noun it modifies is masculine or feminine. To make the adjective plural, add -s to the end: decepcionantes.
How do you pronounce it?
/deθebθjoˈnante/
Did you know?
- The word decepción does not always mean 'disappointment'. In many contexts it can mean 'deception' or 'fraud', meaning someone was tricked rather than just let down.
- While decepcionante is used for a bad movie, Spanish speakers often use the word desilusionante to describe a deeper emotional letdown or a loss of hope.
- While 'disappointing' describes the situation, the Spanish term decepcionante shares a root with 'deception', implying a sense of being misled or tricked in its historical sense.
Examples in context
- Su nueva película es decepcionante.His new movie is disappointing.This sentence shows how to describe a movie as decepcionante.Tatoeba #1221986 by marcelostockle, translation #1099705 by CK
- El resultado fue bien decepcionante.The result was rather disappointing.This sentence is useful for saying a result was rather decepcionante.Tatoeba #1641098 by marcelostockle, translation #238594 by CM
- Eso es decepcionante.That's disappointing.This sentence shows how to say that something is decepcionante.Tatoeba #2152525 by hayastan, translation #2111449 by CK
- El resultado del proyecto fue decepcionante.The result of the project was disappointing.
- Es desalentador ver cómo la situación empeora cada día.It is discouraging to see how the situation worsens every day.
- Es lamentable que no se haya alcanzado un acuerdo.It's regrettable that an agreement hasn't been reached.
- ¡Qué desilusionante resultó la película!The movie turned out to be so disappointing!
- Me llevé un chasco cuando me cancelaron el concierto.I was disappointed when the concert got canceled.
- ¡Qué mala onda que nos suspendieron el viaje!It's such a bummer that our trip got canceled!
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Elena and Alejandro are discussing a book they both read.
- Elena¿Te gustó el final del libro, Alejandro?Did you like the end of the book, Alejandro?
- AlejandroNo, me pareció muy decepcionante.No, I found it very disappointing.
- ElenaYo pienso lo mismo, fue un error.I think the same, it was a mistake.
- AlejandroSí, fue un desenlace decepcionante.Yes, it was a disappointing outcome.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “disappointing” translations and entries decepcionante, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
