desaparecer
“desaparecer” means “to disappear” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to disappear, to vanish
Also: to fade away
📝 In Action
El mago hizo desaparecer la moneda.
A2The magician made the coin disappear.
Las nubes desaparecieron y salió el sol.
A2The clouds vanished and the sun came out.
Si no comes rápido, tu helado desaparecerá.
B1If you don't eat fast, your ice cream will disappear.
to go missing, to be lost
Also: to be absent
📝 In Action
El documento importante desapareció de mi escritorio.
B1The important document went missing from my desk.
El joven desapareció sin dejar rastro hace dos años.
B2The young man went missing without a trace two years ago.
Se desapareció justo antes de la reunión.
B2He vanished (himself) just before the meeting. (Used reflexively in some regions)
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: desaparecer
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses the irregular 'yo' form of desaparecer in the present tense?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Formed by combining the negative prefix 'des-' (meaning 'un-' or 'reversal') with the verb 'aparecer' (to appear), which itself comes from the Latin 'apparēscere'. It literally means 'to undo the act of appearing'.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'desaparecer' used for people or just objects?
'Desaparecer' is used for everything! Things (the sun, a stain, money) and people (a missing person, someone who left abruptly). The noun form, 'desaparición,' is often used in serious contexts, like 'la desaparición de un testigo' (the disappearance of a witness).
How do I remember the 'zc' change?
Many Spanish verbs ending in -ecer, -ucir, and -ocer (like conocer, crecer, traducir) have this same change in the 'yo' form and the present subjunctive. If the verb ends in 'cer' and the next vowel is 'o' or 'a', think 'zc'!