desaparecer
/desapaɾeˈθeɾ/
To vanish in Spanish is desaparecer.
desaparecer means to become invisible or to move out of view unnoticed. It can be used both intransitively (to vanish) and transitively (to make something vanish).
Meaning: become invisible or to move out of view unnoticed (verb)
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb follows standard conjugation patterns, such as the present subjunctive form desaparezca. The past participle of desaparecer is desaparecido, which translates to vanished.
How do you pronounce it?
/desapaɾeˈθeɾ/
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, the word desaparecido refers specifically to a person who has been forcibly disappeared by a political regime, rather than just someone who is missing.
- If someone 'vanishes' because they are shy or avoiding attention, a Spanish speaker might use the word esfumarse, which literally means to turn into smoke.
- The verb desaparecer is actually a combination of the prefix 'des-' and the verb aparecer, which means 'to appear'.
Examples in context
- Es un dispositivo único capaz de hacer desaparecer el estrés y la melancolía.It's a unique device able to make stress and melancholy vanish.This sentence demonstrates how to use desaparecer transitively to describe making something vanish.Tatoeba #1249189 by marcelostockle, translation #684070 by papabear
- Después de la función, el mago hizo desaparecer una moneda.After the show, the magician made a coin vanish
- La última vez que lo vi, se esfumó en la oscuridad.The last time I saw him, he vanished into the darkness
- Nunca supe qué pasó realmente, simplemente se esfumaron sin decir adiós.I never knew what really happened, they simply vanished without saying goodbye
- La ilusión se desvaneció en un instante, dejando a todos sorprendidos.The illusion vanished in an instant, leaving everyone amazed
- Los presos lograron fugarse durante la noche sin dejar rastro.The prisoners managed to vanish during the night without leaving a trace
- El humo parece desaparecer rápidamente.The smoke seems to disappear quickly.
- Mis llaves suelen desaparecer sin motivo.My keys tend to disappear without reason.
Example conversation
Mateo and María are looking for a lost cat in the garden.
- Mateo¿Viste dónde está el gato?Did you see where the cat is?
- MaríaNo, parece que pudo desaparecer entre los arbustos.No, it looks like it could have disappeared among the bushes.
- MateoEspero que no desaparezca para siempre.I hope it doesn't disappear forever.
- MaríaNo te preocupes, Mateo, seguro aparece pronto.Don't worry, Mateo, I'm sure it will show up soon.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry desaparecer, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries desaparecer, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
