decepción
/deθebˈθjon/feminine
Disappointment in Spanish is decepción. Wiktionary also lists chasco.
Meaning: cause, letdown (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| decepción | /deθebˈθjon/ /desebˈsjon/ |
feminine |
| chasco | /ˈt͡ʃasko/ | masculine |
The word refers to a cause, letdown (noun).
Which one should you use?
decepción is the most common way to express disappointment or the feeling of being disillusioned. In contrast, chasco is often used to describe a sudden, sharp sense of letdown or a feeling of being cheated by expectations.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, the word desengaño means disappointment.
How does it change in a sentence?
decepción is a feminine noun, so it requires feminine articles like la or una. chasco is a masculine noun, so it requires masculine articles like el or un.
How do you pronounce it?
/deθebˈθjon/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistake decepción for 'deception' (decepción means disappointment, whereas deception is engaño).
Did you know?
- The word chasco is believed to be onomatopoeic, imitating the sharp 'snap' or 'crack' of a whip. This mirrors the sudden, jarring sensation of a sudden letdown.
- In Spain, you might encounter the word desengaño to express disappointment. This word literally translates to 'un-deceiving' oneself, suggesting the painful process of seeing the truth.
- The word chascar can mean both to snap a finger and to be disappointed. This relates to the idea of a sudden break in expectations.
Examples in context
- Intenté ocultar mi decepción.I tried to hide my disappointment.This sentence is useful for practicing how to express the act of hiding one's decepción.Tatoeba #5439776 by mferrer0000, translation #5417925 by Hybrid
- La fiesta fue una gran decepción.The party was a big disappointment.This sentence is useful for describing a situation where an event was a decepción.Tatoeba #1615991 by teskmon, translation #1039955 by CK
- Para mi decepción su carta no llegó.To my disappointment, his letter didn't come.This sentence is useful for showing how to use decepción when expressing a reaction to a specific event.Tatoeba #1606394 by teskmon, translation #63698 by Dreamk33
- Me causó mucha desilusión no haber recibido la promociónI was very disappointed not to have received the promotion
- Experimenté una gran decepción al ver que no cumplió su promesaI experienced great disappointment when I saw that he didn't keep his promise
- Me llevé un chasco cuando me dijeron que no podrían venir a la fiestaI was disappointed when they told me they couldn't come to the party
- Qué desilusión que el concierto se haya canceladoWhat a disappointment that the concert was canceled
- Estoy decepcionada de los resultados del examenI am disappointed with the exam results
- 12 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucía and Alejandro are talking about a movie they just watched.
- LucíaLa película fue una decepción total.The movie was a total disappointment.
- Alejandro¿En serio? A mí me gustó mucho.Really? I liked it a lot.
- LucíaEl final fue una decepción para mí.The ending was a letdown for me.
- AlejandroTienes razón, el final fue muy débil.You are right, the ending was very weak.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “disappointment” translations and entries decepción, chasco, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries chasco, decepción, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
