desaparecidos
/de-sah-pah-reh-SEE-dohs/
the disappeared
The empty chair symbolizes 'los desaparecidos,' representing those who have vanished and are deeply missed.
desaparecidos(noun)
the disappeared
?people who vanished due to political arrest or kidnapping
missing persons
?general context of people who cannot be found
📝 In Action
Las familias de los desaparecidos todavía buscan la verdad.
B2The families of the disappeared are still searching for the truth.
El monumento recuerda a los desaparecidos de la dictadura.
B2The monument remembers those who disappeared during the dictatorship.
💡 Grammar Points
Using a descriptive word as a name
In Spanish, you can put 'los' (the) in front of a descriptive word to turn it into a name for a group of people. Here, it means 'the people who have disappeared.'
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing with 'lost'
Mistake: "Using 'desaparecidos' to mean you can't find your keys."
Correction: Use 'perdidos' for lost items. 'Desaparecidos' is much heavier and usually refers to people who have vanished without a trace.
⭐ Usage Tips
Historical Context
When you hear this in Latin America, it almost always refers to the thousands of people who went missing during political conflicts in the 1970s and 80s.
A lone object left behind illustrates the state of being 'desaparecido' or missing.
desaparecidos(adjective)
missing
?describing people or things that are not found
vanished
?describing something that has disappeared
📝 In Action
Mis calcetines están desaparecidos.
A2My socks are missing.
Los excursionistas siguen desaparecidos en la montaña.
B1The hikers are still missing on the mountain.
💡 Grammar Points
Using 'estar'
Use the verb 'estar' with this word because being missing is a temporary state or condition, not a permanent personality trait.
⭐ Usage Tips
Matching the group
Because this ends in '-os', it describes a group of men or a mixed group of men and women. If you are talking only about women, use 'desaparecidas'.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: desaparecidos
Question 1 of 2
Which verb should you use if you want to say 'The documents are missing'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'perdidos' and 'desaparecidos'?
'Perdidos' usually means 'lost' (like being lost in a city or losing your keys). 'Desaparecidos' means 'missing' or 'vanished' and often implies a more mysterious or serious situation where something has completely disappeared from sight.
Is 'desaparecidos' always plural?
Not necessarily, but it is very commonly used in the plural to refer to groups. The singular is 'desaparecido' (for a man) or 'desaparecida' (for a woman).