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How to Say "vanished" in Spanish

English → Spanish

desapareció

VerbA2General
Use this verb when something or someone has disappeared, vanished, or ceased to be present, often suddenly or unexpectedly.

Examples

El ladrón desapareció entre la multitud.

The thief vanished into the crowd.

desaparecido

des-ah-pah-reh-SEE-doh/desapaɾeˈsiðo/

AdjectiveB1General
Use this adjective to describe something that is currently missing, lost, or has been gone for some time.
A simple illustration of an empty space on a kitchen counter, marked by a faint dust outline, suggesting an object is missing.

Examples

Mi gato está desaparecido desde ayer.

My cat has been missing since yesterday.

El collar de oro está desaparecido desde anoche.

The gold necklace has been missing since last night.

Encontraron el coche desaparecido a pocos kilómetros de la ciudad.

They found the vanished car a few kilometers from the city.

Gender and Number Agreement

Since this is an adjective (it describes a noun), it must change its ending to match the thing it is describing: 'la cartera desaparecida' (feminine, singular) or 'los documentos desaparecidos' (masculine, plural).

Using the Wrong Verb

Mistake: “Using 'ser' instead of 'estar' (El libro es desaparecido).”

Correction: Use 'estar' (El libro está desaparecido). Being missing is a temporary state, not a permanent quality of the book.

voló

VerbB2Informal
Use this verb when something has suddenly disappeared, often implying it was taken or is gone very quickly, sometimes with a sense of being stolen or lost due to haste.

Examples

Dejé mi teléfono en el taxi y se voló.

I left my phone in the taxi and it vanished/was gone.

Verb vs. Adjective for 'Missing'

Learners often confuse 'desapareció' (verb) and 'desaparecido' (adjective). Remember that 'desapareció' describes the action of disappearing, while 'desaparecido' describes the state of being missing.

Related Translations

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