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How to Say "to faint" in Spanish

English → Spanish

desmayar

/des-ma-YAR//desmaˈʝaɾ/

verbA2
Use 'desmayar' for a general loss of consciousness, often due to emotional shock, heat, or sudden illness.
A person falling back into the arms of a friend, appearing unconscious.

Examples

Ella se desmayó al ver la sangre.

She fainted when she saw the blood.

Tengo tanto hambre que siento que me voy a desmayar.

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

El calor era tan intenso que varios soldados desmayaron.

The heat was so intense that several soldiers fainted.

Using the 'Se'

When you want to say a specific person fainted, you almost always use the reflexive form 'desmayarse' (adding me, te, se, nos, os). For example: 'Me desmayé' (I fainted).

Active vs. Passive Fainting

Without the 'se', desmayar is often used in literature to describe the act of losing strength or spirit generally, rather than a person physically falling down.

The 'Se' Confusion

Mistake: “Yo desmayé ayer.”

Correction: Yo me desmayé ayer. (In everyday Spanish, you need the reflexive 'me' to show it happened to you.)

desplomar

/des-plo-MAR//desploˈmaɾ/

verbB1
Choose 'desplomar' when someone loses consciousness suddenly and falls down, often implying a more dramatic or physical collapse.
A person sitting on a park bench suddenly slumping over as if falling asleep or losing consciousness.

Examples

El corredor se desplomó al cruzar la línea de meta.

The runner collapsed upon crossing the finish line.

Se desplomó en el sofá, agotada tras un largo día.

She slumped onto the sofa, exhausted after a long day.

Debido al calor, varias personas se desplomaron durante el desfile.

Due to the heat, several people fainted during the parade.

People and 'Se'

When people are the ones falling or fainting, always use the 'se' form: 'Juan se desplomó.'

Mistaking with 'desplumar'

Mistake: “El edificio se desplumó.”

Correction: El edificio se desplomó. 'Desplumar' means to pluck feathers from a bird!

desvanecer

/des-bah-neh-SEHR//desβaneˈser/

verbB2
Use 'desvanecer' when the loss of consciousness is gradual or less sudden, perhaps feeling like you're 'fading away'.
A person sitting on a park bench with their eyes closed and their body slumped over softly.

Examples

Ella se desvaneció por el intenso calor.

She fainted because of the intense heat.

Al ver la sangre, el hombre se desvaneció.

Upon seeing the blood, the man passed out.

Always Reflexive

When 'desvanecer' means to faint, you must always use it with 'me, te, se, nos, os'. It's something that happens to you physically.

General vs. Sudden Collapse

The most common mistake is using 'desmayar' for every instance of fainting. Remember that 'desplomar' specifically implies a sudden falling down, like a collapse, while 'desvanecer' suggests a more gradual fading out of consciousness.

Related Translations

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