delusione
/de.luˈzjo.ne/
The English phrase 'disappointment' is translated into Italian as delusione.
Delusione is a noun used to describe both the feeling of disappointment and the thing that causes the letdown.
Meaning: cause, letdown (noun)
Which one should you use?
Delusione is the noun referring to the concept or the cause of the disappointment. In contrast, deluso is the adjective used to describe a person who is experiencing that feeling.
How does it change in a sentence?
As a feminine noun, delusione is preceded by feminine articles such as la or una. When using the adjective to describe a person, you must match the gender: use deluso for a male and delusa for a female.
How do you pronounce it?
/de.luˈzjo.ne/ (4 syllables, stress on the 3rd syllable)
Did you know?
- While delusione is the standard term, Italians may use the phrase una doccia fredda, meaning 'a cold shower', to describe a sudden and shocking disappointment.
- The word delusione shares its root with the English verb 'delude', as both come from the Latin 'ludere', meaning 'to play'.
- Unlike English, which has 'disappointment' and 'disillusionment', Italian often uses delusione to cover both concepts depending on the context.
Examples in context
- È stato una delusione.It was a disappointment.This sentence shows how to describe an event as a delusione.Tatoeba #4557958 by Guybrush88, translation #4497336 by CK
- È stata una delusione.That was a disappointment.This sentence is useful for saying 'That was a disappointment'.Tatoeba #4557959 by Guybrush88, translation #2544626 by CK
- È una delusione, vero?It's a disappointment, isn't it?This sentence demonstrates how to ask for agreement regarding a disappointment.Tatoeba #4889306 by Guybrush88, translation #4879988 by CK
- 42 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about a movie that was not good.
- FrancescoIl film è stata una grande delusione.The movie was a great disappointment.
- ChiaraSì, purtroppo è stata una delusione.Yes, unfortunately it was a letdown.
- FrancescoTi è dispiaciuto, Chiara?Were you disappointed, Chiara?
- ChiaraMolto, Francesco.Very much, Francesco.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry delusione, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries delusione, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
