déception
/de.sɛp.sjɔ̃/
The English phrase 'disappointment' is translated into French as déception.
déception is used to describe a letdown or a cause of disappointment.
Meaning: cause, letdown (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
The word has three syllables and is pronounced /de.sɛp.sjɔ̃/.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Be careful not to use déception to mean 'deception' (trickery or the act of tricking someone). In French, the word for 'deception' is tromperie.
Did you know?
- While déception is the standard word for a letdown, French speakers often use the phrase tomber de haut literally meaning 'to fall from a height' to express a sudden, shocking disappointment.
- The English word 'deception' relates to the concept of 'misleading', whereas the French déception relates to the concept of 'falling short'.
- In French, the verb décevoir can be used to describe the act of failing to meet expectations, but it is rarely used to mean 'to cheat' as its English relative 'deceive' does.
Examples in context
- Ce fut une déception.That was a disappointment.Tatoeba #7763085 by sacredceltic, translation #2544626 by CK
- Il ne cacha pas sa déception.He didn't hide his disappointment.Tatoeba #7364679 by tras, translation #7364529 by maaster
- Le film fut une vraie déception.The movie was a real disappointment.Tatoeba #3202484 by Rovo, translation #3177295 by Theocracy
- 17 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Gabriel and Emma are discussing a restaurant they recently visited.
- GabrielLe repas était une grande déception.The meal was a great disappointment.
- EmmaC'est dommage, Gabriel.That is a shame, Gabriel.
- GabrielJe suis très déçu par le service.I am very disappointed by the service.
- EmmaJe comprends ta déception.I understand your disappointment.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry déception, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
