desaparecido (spanish) - meaning, definition, translation, pronunciation

Part of Speech

The word "desaparecido" is an adjective and can also function as a noun.

Phonetic Transcription

/dɛsapɑɾeˈsiðo/

Translation Options into English

1. Missing (adjective)
2. Disappeared (adjective)
3. Missing person (noun)

Meaning and Usage

The term "desaparecido" is commonly used in Spanish to describe someone or something that has gone missing or has disappeared without a trace. This word is frequently used in legal contexts (such as missing persons cases) and in discussions regarding human rights violations, particularly related to enforced disappearances.

Its frequency of use is relatively high in discussions surrounding crime, law, human rights, and general communication, both in spoken and written forms, although it may tend to appear more in written contexts due to its association with legal terminology.

Example Sentences

1. La familia está desesperada por encontrar a su hijo desaparecido.

2. The family is desperate to find their missing son.

3. El caso del ciudadano desaparecido ha sido abordado por las autoridades.

4. The case of the disappeared citizen has been addressed by the authorities.

5. En la guerra, muchos hombres y mujeres fueron declarados desaparecidos.

6. In the war, many men and women were declared missing.

Idiomatic Expressions

The word "desaparecido" is part of several idiomatic expressions in Spanish, particularly in contexts related to loss, absence, or legality.

Example Idiomatic Expressions

1. "Estar como desaparecido"
2. Meaning: To be unaccounted for; to be unreachable.

3. Example: Desde que le ofrecieron el trabajo, Juan está como desaparecido.

   • Since he was offered the job, Juan has been unaccounted for.

4. "Desaparecido en combate"

5. Meaning: Disappeared in combat; often used to refer to soldiers missing in action.

6. Example: El soldado fue declarado desaparecido en combate durante la misión.

   • The soldier was declared missing in action during the mission.

7. "Ser un desaparecido"

8. Meaning: To be someone who has disappeared or is missing, often in a political or societal context.
9. Example: Muchas familias siguen buscando a sus seres queridos que fueron un desaparecido durante la dictadura.
   • Many families are still searching for their loved ones who became missing during the dictatorship.

Etymology

The word "desaparecido" is derived from the Spanish verb "desaparecer," which means "to disappear." The prefix "des-" conveys the meaning of removal or negation, while "aparecer" means "to appear." Hence, "desaparecido" literally translates to "not appeared" or "disappeared."

Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms: - Ausente (absent) - Perdido (lost) - Ignorado (ignored)

Antonyms: - Presente (present) - Aparecido (appeared) - Encontrado (found)