desenlace
“desenlace” means “ending” in Spanish (the final part of a story or movie).
ending
Also: outcome, resolution
📝 In Action
El desenlace de la película fue totalmente inesperado.
B1The ending of the movie was totally unexpected.
Los ciudadanos esperan un desenlace pacífico a la crisis.
B2The citizens hope for a peaceful resolution to the crisis.
En el desenlace de la novela, el detective descubre al culpable.
B2In the resolution of the novel, the detective discovers the culprit.
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: desenlace
Question 1 of 3
Which of the following is the best place to use 'desenlace'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Formed by combining the prefix 'des-' (meaning to undo) and 'enlace' (link/tie). It literally describes the 'untying' of the knots or complications in a dramatic story.
First recorded: 18th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use 'desenlace' for a happy ending?
Yes! You can say 'un desenlace feliz'. It simply means how things turned out, whether good or bad.
Is 'desenlace' more formal than 'final'?
Slightly. While 'final' is very general, 'desenlace' sounds more like you are analyzing the way a story or situation concluded.
Is it used only for books?
No, it is also used for real-life situations like trials, political conflicts, or sports matches where there is a build-up to a final result.