Desaparecer

Desaparecer is a Spanish verb meaning to cease to be visible or to vanish, to cease to exist, or to disappear from a place or from memory. It can describe a physical vanishing, but also a figurative loss of presence or relevance. The verb is intransitive in its core use, and it is often followed by a prepositional phrase such as desparecer de la vista, desaparecer de la escena, or desaparecer de la memoria.

Etymology and usage: Desaparecer is formed from the prefix des- (indicating negation or removal) and aparecer (to appear). The word expresses the idea of moving from presence to absence and is widely used in everyday speech, journalism, and literature. The past participle desaparecer is desaparecido, used as an adjective or noun to denote a missing person (una persona desaparecida) or, in the plural, los desaparecidos, a term frequently encountered in human rights contexts.

Conjugation overview: Desaparecer is a regular -er verb. Present indicative forms: desaparezco, desapareces, desaparece, desaparecemos, desaparecéis, desaparecen. Preterite: desaparecí, desapareciste, desapareció, desaparecimos, desaparecisteis, desaparecieron. Imperfect: desaparecía, desaparecías, desaparecía, desaparecíamos, desaparecíais, desaparecían. Subjunctive present: desaparezca, desaparezcas, desaparezca, desaparezcamos, desaparezcáis, desaparezcan. Imperative: tú desaparece, usted desaparezca, nosotros desaparezcamos, vosotros desapareced, ustedes desaparezcan.

See also: The term appears in cultural and historical discussions, sometimes linked to events where individuals are reported missing, and it can be used in idiomatic expressions such as desvanecerse o desaparecer del mapa, meaning to fade away or vanish from public awareness.