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demencia

deh-MEN-syah/deˈmen.sja/

dementia

Also: memory loss
NounfB2
A colorful puzzle of a human head with a few pieces missing.

📝 In Action

Mi abuelo fue diagnosticado con demencia el año pasado.

A2

My grandfather was diagnosed with dementia last year.

La demencia senil requiere mucha paciencia por parte de la familia.

B1

Senile dementia requires a lot of patience from the family.

Existen diversos tratamientos para retrasar los síntomas de la demencia.

B2

There are various treatments to delay the symptoms of dementia.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • enajenación (alienation/loss of mind)
  • trastorno (disorder)

Antonyms

  • lucidez (lucidity/clarity)
  • cordura (sanity)

Common Collocations

  • demencia senil – senile dementia
  • síntomas de demencia – symptoms of dementia
  • padecer demencia – to suffer from dementia

madness, insanity

Also: craziness
NounfB1informal
A whimsical scene of a cat wearing a crown and riding a giant floating strawberry.

📝 In Action

¡Conducir en esta ciudad a las cinco de la tarde es una demencia!

B1

Driving in this city at five in the afternoon is madness!

Fue una demencia gastar todos nuestros ahorros en un solo viaje.

B1

It was insanity to spend all our savings on a single trip.

La fiesta de anoche fue una auténtica demencia.

B2

Last night's party was total craziness.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • sensatez (common sense)

Common Collocations

  • es una demencia – it is madness
  • auténtica demencia – total/absolute madness

Idioms & Expressions

  • rayar en la demencia – to border on insanity or be almost crazy

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "demencia" in Spanish:

craziness→dementia→insanity→madness→memory loss→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: demencia

Question 1 of 3

If you want to say a medical condition is affecting someone's memory, which is the most professional word?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
demente(insane/demented) — Adjective
demencial(crazy/absurd) — Adjective
dementar(to make someone go crazy) — Verb
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From Latin 'dementia,' which combines 'de-' (meaning away from or out of) and 'mens' (meaning mind). It literally means being 'out of one's mind.'

First recorded: 15th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: dementiaFrench: démenceItalian: demenza

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'demencia' the same as 'Alzheimer'?

Not exactly. 'Demencia' is the general name for memory and thinking problems, while 'Alzheimer' is a specific disease that causes it.

Can I use 'demencia' to mean 'cool' or 'awesome'?

No. While 'locura' can sometimes be used positively, 'demencia' almost always describes something negative, chaotic, or medically serious.

Is it a common word in daily Spanish?

Yes, especially the phrase 'es una demencia' to complain about traffic, prices, or disorganized events.