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desencuentro

misunderstanding

noun des-en-KWEN-troh Rare
Mind & Emotions Mental States

Also means

failure to connect

Usage Note

Desencuentro (m) literally means a missed meeting or failure to meet, but it is most commonly used figuratively for a clash of expectations, a breakdown in communication, or an ideological mismatch between people or groups. Unlike malentendido (misunderstanding of meaning), desencuentro emphasises two parties who simply cannot find common ground or who keep missing each other — physically or metaphorically.

Examples

"Hubo un desencuentro entre los dos líderes en la cumbre."

Natural Translation

There was a failure to connect between the two leaders at the summit.

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