Inklingo
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A small child looking sadly at a dropped ice cream cone on the sidewalk.

decepción

deh-sep-SYOHN

nounfB1
disappointment?the feeling of being let down
Also:letdown?a situation that did not meet expectations

📝 In Action

La película fue una gran decepción.

A2

The movie was a big disappointment.

Me llevé una decepción cuando no me llamaste.

B1

I was disappointed when you didn't call me.

Para evitar decepciones, es mejor no esperar demasiado.

B2

To avoid letdowns, it's better not to expect too much.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • desilusión (disillusionment/disappointment)
  • chasco (bummer/disappointment)

Antonyms

  • satisfacción (satisfaction)
  • alegría (joy)

Common Collocations

  • llevarse una decepción – to be disappointed / to get a disappointment
  • ser una decepción – to be a disappointment
  • qué decepción – what a letdown / how disappointing

💡 Grammar Points

Gender Clue

Words ending in '-ción' are almost always feminine, so you should use 'la' or 'una' with this word (la decepción).

❌ Common Pitfalls

The Biggest 'Trick' Word

Mistake: "Using 'decepción' to mean 'deception' (a lie or trick)."

Correction: In Spanish, 'decepción' means disappointment. If you want to say 'deception' or 'a lie,' use the word 'engaño'.

⭐ Usage Tips

Describing Feelings

To say 'I am disappointed,' Spanish speakers often say 'Me llevé una decepción' (I took a disappointment) or 'Estoy decepcionado'.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: decepción

Question 1 of 2

If your friend says '¡Qué decepción!', how are they feeling?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

decepcionar(to disappoint) - verb
decepcionado(disappointed) - adjective
decepcionante(disappointing) - adjective

Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'decepción' ever mean 'a lie'?

No, in modern Spanish it strictly means 'disappointment.' For 'a lie' or 'trickery,' use the word 'engaño'.

What is the difference between 'decepción' and 'desilusión'?

They are very similar. 'Decepción' is often used when a specific thing or person fails you, while 'desilusión' is that feeling of losing your enthusiasm or 'losing the magic' about something.