desaparecer
/deh-sah-pah-reh-SEHR/
to disappear
When something is actively vanishing from sight, it is said to desaparecer.
desaparecer(verb)
to disappear
?to vanish from sight
,to vanish
?to cease to exist or be present
to fade away
?gradual disappearance
📝 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.
💡 Grammar Points
The 'zc' Change
This verb is slightly irregular only when the 'yo' form is followed by an 'o' or 'a' sound. The 'c' changes to 'zc' to keep the soft 's' sound: yo desaparezco (present indicative) and all present subjunctive forms (desaparezca, etc.).
Use with 'Hacer'
To say 'to make something disappear,' you use the verb 'hacer' (to make) followed by the infinitive: 'Hizo desaparecer el pastel' (He made the cake disappear).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the 'zc'
Mistake: "Yo desapareco."
Correction: Yo desaparezco. Remember to add the 'z' when conjugating the 'yo' form in the present tense.
⭐ Usage Tips
Intransitive Action
'Desaparecer' usually doesn't need a direct object. The thing that vanishes is the subject of the sentence (e.g., 'El coche desapareció' – The car disappeared).
If a person or item is nowhere to be found, it has desaparecido (gone missing).
desaparecer(verb)
to go missing
?of a person or item
,to be lost
?used in passive constructions
to be absent
?to be suddenly absent from a place
📝 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)
💡 Grammar Points
The Passive Idea
When talking about an item that is lost or missing, Spanish often uses 'desaparecer' where English might use a passive construction ('was lost').
⭐ Usage Tips
Regional Reflexive Use
In many parts of Latin America, you will hear 'desaparecerse' (using the reflexive 'se') to emphasize that someone or something vanished suddenly, like 'Se desapareció de la fiesta' (He disappeared from the party).
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ 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
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'!