decepcionar
“decepcionar” means “to disappoint” in Spanish (to let someone down or fail their expectations).
to disappoint
Also: to fail
📝 In Action
No quiero decepcionar a mis padres con mis notas.
A2I don't want to disappoint my parents with my grades.
La película me decepcionó un poco; esperaba más acción.
B1The movie disappointed me a bit; I was expecting more action.
Espero que los resultados no nos decepcionen.
B2I hope the results don't let us down.
Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Indicative
Preterite
Imperfect
Present
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: decepcionar
Question 1 of 3
Which of these means 'He disappointed me'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin word 'deceptio', which originally meant to ensnare or trap. Over time, it shifted from the idea of being 'tricked' to the feeling of sadness when a trick or an expectation fails to come true.
First recorded: 17th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'decepcionar' mean to lie to someone?
No. Although it looks like the English word 'deceive,' it actually means 'to disappoint.' To say 'lie' or 'trick,' use 'engañar' or 'mentir'.
Is it a regular or irregular verb?
It is completely regular! It follows all the standard rules for verbs ending in '-ar'.
Can I use 'decepcionar' for things, like a broken phone?
Yes! If a product or experience didn't meet your expectations, you can say it 'decepcionó' (disappointed you).