desaparecer

to disappear

verb deh-sah-pah-reh-SEHR Less Common

Origin: From Latin dis- + apparere (to appear).

Usage Note

Desaparecer is a regular -er verb but follows the spelling-change pattern of conocer: first-person singular present is desaparezco. In Latin American political discourse, the verb took on a chilling passive use — fue desaparecido (he was disappeared) — referring to extrajudicial disappearances by authoritarian regimes, a usage recognised by the RAE. Desaparición (disappearance) is the derived noun.

Examples

"El gato desapareció durante la noche."

Natural Translation

The cat disappeared during the night.

Free starter pack

Building your Spanish vocabulary?

Get the 100 most common Spanish words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.

Related Words

Explore Spanish by topic

SpanishNow

Spanish Accent Marks: 3 Rules for Every Word

A Spanish word needs an accent mark in just three cases: it breaks the default stress, it's a homophone, or a weak vowel splits off. Here are all three rules.

June 3, 2026 6 min read

SpanishNow

Spanish Numbers 1-100: Count, Spell & Pronounce

Spanish numbers 1 to 100 are a system, not a list: three patterns build every number. Master the spelling, the accent rule, and how to say prices fast.

June 9, 2026 6 min read

SpanishNow

You're Welcome in Spanish: Beyond De Nada

You're welcome in Spanish is more than de nada. Learn con gusto, no hay de qué, a la orden and more — and which to use by region and how formal the moment is.

June 3, 2026 6 min read

SpanishNow

Spanish Subjunctive Explained Simply for Beginners

The Spanish subjunctive is a mood, not a tense — use it after a WEIRDO trigger plus que. Learn the one rule, the yo-form recipe, and the lines you already say.

June 9, 2026 5 min read