desconectar
/deskoneɡˈtaɾ/
To disconnect in Spanish is desconectar.
desconectar is used to mean severing or interrupting a connection. This applies to both physical connections, such as unplugging an appliance and abstract connections, such as a telephone line or a digital connection.
Meaning: to sever or interrupt a connection (verb)
What does it mean word for word?
The verb is formed from the prefix des- (meaning un- or dis-) and conectar (meaning to connect).
How does it change in a sentence?
The past participle desconectado can be used as an adjective to describe a person or a thing that is disconnected.
How do you pronounce it?
/deskoneɡˈtaɾ/
Did you know?
- In medical contexts, the phrase desconectar is used for the removal of life support, but the phrase desenchufar is sometimes used colloquially to mean 'unplugging' a patient.
- While desconectar refers to technical or physical disconnection, Spanish speakers often use the phrase desconectar to mean mentally relaxing or taking a break from stress and work.
- The prefix des- in desconectar and the English prefix 'dis-' both trace back to the same Proto-Indo-European root *d(w)is-, which meant 'asunder' or 'apart'.
Examples in context
- Por favor, desenchufa el cargador del teléfono cuando haya terminado de cargar.Please unplug the phone charger when it's finished charging.
- Parece que hemos tenido una interrupción en la conexión a internet.It seems we've had a connection interruption.
- Desconecté el televisor mientras estábamos fuera.I disconnected the TV while we were out.
- Desenchufa el cable si no lo vas a utilizar para ahorrar energía.Unplug the cable if you're not going to use it to save energy.
- Decidí cortar con mi exnovio porque no estábamos bien juntos.I decided to cut ties with my ex-boyfriend because we weren't good together.
- Necesito desconectar un poco de la rutina.I need to disconnect a bit from the routine.
- Debes desconectar el televisor antes de salir.You should disconnect the television before leaving.
- El técnico va a desconectar los cables.The technician is going to disconnect the cables.
- No olvides desconectar el cargador del móvil.Don't forget to disconnect the phone charger.
Example conversation
Daniel and Sofía are fixing a lamp in the living room.
- DanielSofía, ¿puedes desconectar la lámpara, por favor?Sofía, can you disconnect the lamp, please?
- SofíaSí, Daniel, lo hago ahora mismo.Yes, Daniel, I'll do it right now.
- DanielGracias, ahora puedo cambiar la bombilla.Thanks, now I can change the light bulb.
- SofíaListo, ya está desconectada.Done, it is already disconnected.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “disconnect” translations and entries desconectar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries desconectar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
