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desmayar

des-ma-YAR/desmaˈʝaɾ/

“desmayar” means “to faint” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

to faint

Also: to pass out
VerbA2regular ar
A person falling back into the arms of a friend, appearing unconscious.
gerunddesmayando
past Participledesmayado
infinitivedesmayar

📝 In Action

Ella se desmayó al ver la sangre.

A2

She fainted when she saw the blood.

Tengo tanto hambre que siento que me voy a desmayar.

B1

I'm so hungry that I feel like I'm going to pass out.

El calor era tan intenso que varios soldados desmayaron.

B2

The heat was so intense that several soldiers fainted.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • desvanecerse (to faint/fade away)
  • perder el conocimiento (to lose consciousness)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • desmayarse de hambre – to faint from hunger
  • caer desmayado – to fall down in a faint
  • a punto de desmayar – on the verge of fainting

to lose heart

Also: to falter
VerbC1regular arformal
A hiker sitting on a rock looking discouraged with their head in their hands.
gerunddesmayando
past Participledesmayado
infinitivedesmayar

📝 In Action

No debemos desmayar en nuestra lucha por la paz.

C1

We must not lose heart in our struggle for peace.

A pesar de las críticas, su ánimo no desmayó.

C2

Despite the criticism, his spirit did not falter.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • desanimarse (to get discouraged)
  • flaquear (to falter/weaken)

Antonyms

  • perseverar (to persevere)

Common Collocations

  • sin desmayar – without faltering/tirelessly

🔄 Conjugations

subjunctive

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesdesmayaran
yodesmayara
túdesmayaras
vosotrosdesmayarais
nosotrosdesmayáramos
él/ella/usteddesmayara

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesdesmayen
yodesmaye
túdesmayes
vosotrosdesmayéis
nosotrosdesmayemos
él/ella/usteddesmaye

indicative

preterite

ellos/ellas/ustedesdesmayaron
yodesmayé
túdesmayaste
vosotrosdesmayasteis
nosotrosdesmayamos
él/ella/usteddesmayó

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesdesmayaban
yodesmayaba
túdesmayabas
vosotrosdesmayabais
nosotrosdesmayábamos
él/ella/usteddesmayaba

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesdesmayan
yodesmayo
túdesmayas
vosotrosdesmayáis
nosotrosdesmayamos
él/ella/usteddesmaya
View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "desmayar" in Spanish:

to faint→to falter→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: desmayar

Question 1 of 3

Which sentence means 'I fainted'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
desmayo(fainting spell / swoon) — Noun
desmayado(fainted / pale) — Adjective
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From Vulgar Latin 'exmagare', which means to deprive of power or strength. It shares the same root as the English word 'dismay'.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: dismayPortuguese: desmaiar

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is desmayar a regular verb?

Yes, it follows the standard pattern for verbs ending in -ar in all tenses.

What is the difference between 'desmayarse' and 'desvanecerse'?

'Desmayarse' is the most common word for 'to faint.' 'Desvanecerse' is a bit more formal and can also mean 'to fade away' like smoke or a memory.

Does it mean 'to dismay' in English?

They are related, but not the same. While English 'dismay' means to be upset or worried, Spanish 'desmayar' usually means a physical faint or a total loss of spirit.