Inklingo
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ausencia

/ow-SEN-see-ah/

absence

An empty wooden swing set standing alone in a sunny, green park, illustrating the concept of absence.

The empty swing set clearly shows the ausencia (absence) of people.

ausencia(noun)

fA1

absence

?

not being present

Also:

non-attendance

?

missing school or work

,

leave

?

time away from work

📝 In Action

Su ausencia en la clase fue notoria, nadie sabía dónde estaba.

A1

Her absence from class was noticeable; no one knew where she was.

Pidió una semana de ausencia por motivos personales.

A2

She requested a week of leave for personal reasons.

La ausencia de mi jefe me permitió terminar el proyecto en paz.

B1

My boss's absence allowed me to finish the project in peace.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • falta (lack)
  • incomparecencia (failure to appear)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • licencia de ausencia – leave of absence
  • justificar una ausencia – to excuse an absence

💡 Grammar Points

Feminine Noun

Since 'ausencia' ends in -a and is feminine, always use 'la' or 'una' before it, and make any describing words (adjectives) feminine too.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Gender Error

Mistake: "El ausencia."

Correction: La ausencia. This word is feminine, even though some abstract nouns can be masculine.

⭐ Usage Tips

Pairing with 'de'

To say where someone is absent from, use the preposition 'de' (of/from): 'ausencia de la oficina' (absence from the office).

A large, rustic wooden basket sitting on a simple table, containing only one small red apple, signifying a lack or shortage.

The single apple in the large basket represents a pronounced ausencia (lack) or shortage.

ausencia(noun)

fB1

lack

?

shortage, deficiency

Also:

non-existence

?

philosophical concept

📝 In Action

La ausencia de interés en el tema fue evidente en la sala.

B1

The lack of interest in the topic was evident in the room.

Necesitamos actuar ante la ausencia de una ley clara.

B2

We need to act given the lack of a clear law.

El médico relacionó los síntomas con la ausencia de ciertas vitaminas.

C1

The doctor related the symptoms to the deficiency of certain vitamins.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • carencia (shortage)
  • déficit (deficit)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • ausencia de pruebas – lack of evidence
  • ausencia total – total lack

💡 Grammar Points

Formal Context

In this abstract sense, 'ausencia' is often used in official reports, academic writing, or when discussing serious matters like legal issues or scientific findings.

⭐ Usage Tips

Stronger than 'No'

Using 'ausencia' makes your statement sound more impactful than just saying 'no hay' (there isn't). It emphasizes a significant void or deficiency.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: ausencia

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'ausencia' in the sense of 'a lack or shortage' (B1 level)?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

ausente(absent) - adjective
ausentar(to absent oneself) - verb

Frequently Asked Questions

¿Cuál es la diferencia entre 'ausencia' y 'falta'?

Both mean 'lack' or 'absence'. 'Ausencia' often feels more formal and emphasizes a state of being away or a void. 'Falta' is very common and general, meaning 'shortage' or 'fault'. For example, you can say 'falta de respeto' (lack of respect) or 'ausencia de respeto'—both are correct, but 'ausencia' is more formal.