enttäuschen

Enttäuschen is a German verb that translates to "to disappoint" in English. It describes the feeling of sadness or displeasure caused by the failure of expectations or hopes. This disappointment can arise from various situations, such as a person not meeting someone's trust, a product not performing as advertised, or an event not living up to its anticipated excitement. The verb can be used in different grammatical forms, with the most common being the infinitive "enttäuschen" and the past participle "enttäuscht" (disappointed). The noun form is "Enttäuschung," meaning disappointment. When someone is enttäuscht, they have experienced a letdown, and their initial positive feelings have been replaced by negative ones. The intensity of the feeling can vary greatly depending on the significance of the expectation that was not met. For instance, a small unmet expectation might lead to mild irritation, while a major dashed hope could result in profound sadness or disillusionment. The concept of enttäuschen is universal, reflecting a common human experience of hope and its potential for not being fulfilled.