desaparecido
/desapaɾeˈθido/
The Spanish word for missing is desaparecido.
desaparecido is an adjective used to describe someone or something that is not present when they should be. In many Spanish-speaking contexts, particularly in political or historical discussions, desaparecido refers specifically to someone who has been forcibly disappeared by a state or authority. To describe a person who is missing, you can use the phrase estar desaparecido/desaparecida.
Meaning: not present when it (they) should be (adj)
What does it mean word for word?
The word desaparecido is the past participle of the verb desaparecer, which means to disappear.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form must agree in gender and number with the person or things that are missing. Use desaparecido for males, desaparecida for females, desaparecidos for masculine plural and desaparecidas for feminine plural.
How do you pronounce it?
/desapaɾeˈθido/
Did you know?
- Using desaparecido to describe a 'missing' sock or toothbrush can sound unintentionally dramatic or morbid to a native speaker.
- If someone is 'missing' from a classroom roll call, you use falta because desaparecido suggests the person has vanished from the face of the earth.
- The word desaparecido is often used as a formal noun in human rights ceremonies to refer to people who died and whose bodies were never recovered.
Examples in context
- Ha desaparecido una chica.There's a girl missing.This sentence uses desaparecido to show a girl is missing.Tatoeba #6760632 by swyter, translation #3724019 by CM
- La policía buscó al niño desaparecido.The police searched for the missing child.This sentence uses desaparecido to describe a missing child.Tatoeba #1147882 by Shishir, translation #238222 by CK
- Su hermano lleva un tiempo desaparecido.His brother has been missing for a while now.This sentence uses desaparecido to show how long someone has been missing.Tatoeba #1254468 by marcelostockle, translation #1254491 by CH
- La niña está desaparecida desde ayer.The girl has been missing since yesterday.
- ¿Has visto a mi perro? Está perdido desde esta mañana.Have you seen my dog? He's been missing since this morning.
- Carlos no apareció en la reunión de ayer, ¡qué raro!Carlos didn't show up at yesterday's meeting, how strange!
- Me falta el libro de historia.I'm missing the history book.
- Estoy sin mi cartera, no sé dónde la dejé.I'm without my wallet, I don't know where I left it.
- 13 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Elena and Javier are looking for a lost dog in the park.
- ElenaMira este cartel del perro desaparecido.Look at this poster of the missing dog.
- JavierEs un labrador dorado muy bonito.It is a very beautiful golden lab.
- ElenaEl dueño dice que está desaparecido desde ayer.The owner says he has been missing since yesterday.
- JavierOjalá lo encontremos pronto.I hope we find him soon.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry desaparecido, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
