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B1 adjective 8 Min. Lesezeit

desmayado

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At the A1 level, you only need to know that 'desmayado' means someone is not awake because they felt sick or weak. You can use it simply with 'estar'. For example, 'Él está desmayado' (He is fainted). It is important to remember that if it is a girl, you say 'desmayada'. If there are many people, you say 'desmayados' or 'desmayadas'. You might see this word in basic stories or news headlines about very hot weather. Think of it as a step beyond 'sick' (enfermo) or 'tired' (cansado). It describes a person lying on the ground who cannot talk or move for a little while. At this stage, just focus on the basic meaning and the 'estar' connection. Don't worry about the complex medical reasons yet. Just know it describes a person who has 'fallen out' temporarily.

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For A2 learners, 'desmayado' becomes more useful when describing accidents or feelings. You should start using it with verbs like 'caer' (to fall). For example, 'Él cayó desmayado' (He fell fainted). This level requires you to understand the cause-effect relationship. You might say 'Está desmayado por el calor' (He is fainted because of the heat). You should also distinguish it from 'dormido' (asleep). While a sleeping person is 'dormido', a 'desmayado' person is in that state because of a health issue or a shock. You will find this word in simple medical dialogues or when talking about why someone had to go to the doctor. Practice the gender agreement carefully, as it is a common mistake for A2 students to use the masculine 'desmayado' for everyone.

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At the B1 level, you should be comfortable using 'desmayado' in various contexts, including emotional and physical descriptions. You should understand the difference between 'estar desmayado' (the state) and 'desmayarse' (the action). At this level, you might use it to describe dramatic situations: 'Se quedó desmayado al oír la noticia' (He was left fainted upon hearing the news). You should also be aware of the noun form, 'el desmayo' (the faint/swoon). B1 learners should be able to explain *why* someone is desmayado using more complex grammar, such as 'debido a' (due to) or 'a causa de' (because of). You might also encounter it in literature or more detailed news reports. It is a key word for narrating past events, such as 'Cuando llegué, ella ya estaba desmayada'.

B2 learners should use 'desmayado' with more precision and explore its synonyms like 'inconsciente' or 'desfallecido'. You should understand the nuance that 'desmayado' often implies a sudden, temporary loss of consciousness, whereas 'inconsciente' can be more clinical or long-term. You can use 'desmayado' in formal writing or more complex storytelling. For example, 'El herido permaneció desmayado durante varios minutos antes de recobrar el sentido'. You should also be able to use it in the passive voice or as a noun-modifier in more sophisticated sentences. At this level, you should also recognize figurative uses, such as 'desmayado de hambre', and understand that it emphasizes the extremity of the hunger. Your ability to match the adjective with collective nouns or complex subjects should be perfect.

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At the C1 level, you should appreciate the stylistic choices between 'desmayado' and its more literary counterparts like 'exánime' or 'sin sentido'. You should be able to use the word in nuanced ways, perhaps describing the atmosphere of a scene or the physical state of a character in a complex novel. You'll understand the etymological roots and how it relates to 'desmayo' as a loss of courage or strength in archaic Spanish. C1 learners can use 'desmayado' in academic or professional medical discussions while also being able to use it colloquially. You should be familiar with how the word functions in various Spanish-speaking regions and any local variations in its usage. Your control over the word should allow you to use it in fast-paced debates or deep literary analysis without hesitation.

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For C2 speakers, 'desmayado' is a basic tool used with absolute precision. You understand its full range of meanings, from the literal medical condition to its most abstract literary applications. You can discuss the historical evolution of the word and its place in the Spanish lexicon compared to other Romance languages. You might use it in a highly formal medical report or a piece of creative writing where word choice is used to evoke a specific era or mood. At this level, you are also aware of how 'desmayado' interacts with other advanced grammatical structures, such as the 'se' accidental or complex participial clauses. You can distinguish the subtle difference in tone between 'yacer desmayado' and 'estar desmayado', choosing the one that fits the register of your discourse perfectly.

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desmayado in 30 Sekunden

Desmayado means fainted or unconscious, usually due to physical or emotional stress.
It is an adjective that must agree in gender and number with the subject.
It is almost always used with the verb 'estar' because it describes a state.
Commonly heard in medical, news, and dramatic contexts in the Spanish-speaking world.

The Spanish word desmayado is an adjective that describes a person who has lost consciousness, typically due to a sudden drop in blood pressure, lack of oxygen, intense emotion, or physical exhaustion. In its most literal sense, it translates to 'fainted' or 'unconscious.' However, understanding its usage requires looking at the verb from which it derives: desmayarse. Unlike the English word 'faint,' which can be both a verb and an adjective, desmayado specifically denotes the resulting state.

Physical State: It refers to the temporary loss of consciousness where the person is unresponsive and lacks muscle tone. It is a state that usually lasts a short time before the person 'recovers' or 'comes to' (recuperar el conocimiento).

El corredor cruzó la meta y cayó desmayado por el agotamiento.

In Spanish-speaking cultures, the term is frequently heard in medical contexts, news reports regarding heatwaves, or dramatic storytelling. It carries a certain weight of vulnerability. When you see someone desmayado, the immediate reaction is one of concern and urgency.

Emotional Context: While primarily medical, it can be used figuratively in older literature to describe someone overwhelmed by shock or grief, though 'en shock' or 'atónito' is more common today for purely emotional states without physical fainting.

La paciente seguía desmayada cuando llegó la ambulancia.

Beyond the clinical, the word appears in everyday conversations when discussing health scares or extreme weather. For instance, in Seville during the summer, it is not uncommon to hear about tourists falling desmayados due to the 'calor sofocante' (suffocating heat). The word is versatile but consistently points to a loss of the senses.

Literary Nuance: In classic Spanish literature, characters might fall 'desmayados' upon receiving tragic news, emphasizing a profound physical reaction to psychological trauma.

Quedó desmayado tras la noticia del naufragio.

Los socorristas encontraron al joven desmayado en la arena.

Tras el fuerte golpe, el boxeador quedó desmayado en la lona.

This word is essential for B1 learners as it bridges basic physical descriptions with more complex medical and situational narratives.

Using desmayado correctly involves mastering its role as an adjective and its relationship with specific verbs like estar, quedar, and caer. Because it describes a temporary state, the verb estar is almost always the correct choice over ser.

With Estar: This indicates the current condition of the person. 'Juan está desmayado' (Juan is fainted). This is the most common construction in emergency situations.

No sé qué pasó, pero ella está desmayada en el sofá.

With Caer: Used to describe the action of losing consciousness and physically falling. 'Caer desmayado' is a very common idiomatic pairing.

El hombre cayó desmayado en medio de la calle debido al sol.

Agreement Rules: Remember that adjectives in Spanish must match the gender and number of the noun. 'Los niños estaban desmayados' (The children were fainted) vs 'La niña estaba desmayada' (The girl was fainted).

Vimos a varias personas desmayadas por la falta de aire en el concierto.

Another common verb used with this adjective is quedar. This implies a result of a specific event. 'Quedar desmayado' translates to 'to be left unconscious.' This is often used after accidents or fights.

El ciclista quedó desmayado tras el impacto con el coche.

In narrative writing, you might also see it used as a modifier: 'El cuerpo desmayado de la reina fue llevado a sus aposentos.' (The fainted body of the queen was taken to her chambers).

Lo encontramos desmayado en el suelo de la cocina.

¿Podemos comer ya? Estoy casi desmayado de hambre.

Mastering these patterns allows you to describe physical emergencies and intense physical states accurately in Spanish.

You will encounter desmayado in several distinct real-world scenarios. The most common is the medical or emergency setting. If you are watching a Spanish medical drama like 'Hospital Central' or 'Centro Médico,' you will hear doctors and paramedics use this word constantly to describe incoming patients.

News Media: During heatwaves in Spain or Mexico, news anchors often report on the number of people who fell 'desmayados' in public spaces. It's a key term for reporting on public health and weather impacts.

El noticiero informó que varios ancianos terminaron desmayados por la ola de calor.

In sports broadcasting, particularly in endurance sports like marathons or cycling, commentators use 'desmayado' to describe athletes who push themselves beyond their limits.

El tenista cayó desmayado tras cinco horas de partido bajo el sol.

Everyday Conversations: People use it to recount personal stories. 'Casi me quedo desmayado' (I almost fainted) is a common way to express that something was physically overwhelming or terrifying.

Cuando vio la sangre, se puso pálido y quedó desmayado.

Cinematic Tropes: In telenovelas, characters often fall 'desmayadas' for dramatic effect after a shocking revelation. It is a staple of the genre's high-stakes emotional landscape.

La protagonista cayó desmayada al saber que su hijo estaba vivo.

Lo encontraron desmayado en el ascensor, probablemente por el pánico.

Había un hombre desmayado cerca de la entrada del metro.

Whether in a clinical report or a dramatic story, 'desmayado' is the go-to word for loss of consciousness.

Learners often stumble when using desmayado because of its grammatical constraints and similarity to other words. The most frequent error is the Ser vs Estar confusion. Since fainting is a temporary state, you must use estar. Saying 'Él es desmayado' would imply that fainting is a permanent personality trait, which makes no sense in Spanish.

The 'Ser' Error: Incorrect: 'Mi abuelo es desmayado'. Correct: 'Mi abuelo está desmayado'. Always use 'estar' for physical states resulting from an event.

El niño está desmayado (Correcto) vs El niño es desmayado (Incorrecto).

Gender/Number Agreement: English speakers often forget to change the ending. 'Las mujeres están desmayado' is incorrect; it must be 'desmayadas'.

Ellas estaban desmayadas en el suelo de la tienda.

Another mistake is confusing desmayado with inconsciente. While they are often interchangeable, desmayado specifically implies a fainting spell (syncope), whereas inconsciente can refer to a deeper, more prolonged coma or even a lack of moral awareness.

Confusing with 'Cansado': Some learners use 'desmayado' to mean 'very tired'. While 'desmayado de hambre' (faint from hunger) is a thing, usually you should use 'agotado' or 'exhausto' for extreme tiredness.

Estoy agotado (I am exhausted) NOT Estoy desmayado (unless you are actually falling over).

El perro quedó desmayado tras correr bajo el sol fuerte.

Parecía desmayado, pero solo estaba durmiendo la siesta.

Finally, be careful with the preposition 'por'. We say 'desmayado por el calor' or 'desmayado por la noticia', indicating the cause of the faint.

To sound more like a native speaker, it's helpful to know the synonyms and nuances related to desmayado. The most direct synonym is inconsciente. While 'desmayado' sounds more like a sudden physical event, 'inconsciente' is more technical and clinical.

Inconsciente: More formal. Used in hospitals and legal documents. 'El paciente está inconsciente'. It can also mean 'unaware' in a psychological sense.

Lo trasladaron al hospital aún inconsciente.

Desfallecido: This is a more poetic or literary term. It suggests a loss of strength or 'fainting' from weakness or hunger rather than a sudden medical syncope.

Llegó a la aldea desfallecido después de tres días sin comer.

Traspuesto: This is a softer, more colloquial term. It often means 'to have dozed off' or 'to have lost focus' for a moment, but can sometimes imply a brief faint.

Se quedó un poco traspuesto por el cansancio, pero no fue un desmayo real.

La mujer estaba desmayada y no respondía a nuestros gritos.

Parece desmayado, llama a emergencias rápidamente.

El montañista fue hallado desmayado por la falta de oxígeno.

Using these alternatives correctly depends on the level of formality and the specific cause of the unconscious state.

How Formal Is It?

Wusstest du?

The English word 'dismay' shares the same Germanic root (*magan). While 'dismay' evolved to mean a loss of courage or feeling overwhelmed, 'desmayado' evolved to focus on the physical loss of consciousness.

Aussprachehilfe

UK /des.maˈʝa.ðo/

US /des.maˈʝa.ðo/

The stress is on the penultimate syllable: des-ma-YA-do.

Reimt sich auf

cansado pintado llamado estado pesado olvidado enamorado cuidado

Häufige Fehler

Pronouncing the 'y' like an 'i' (des-ma-i-a-do).
Over-pronouncing the final 'd' (it should be soft).
Putting the stress on the last syllable (des-ma-ya-DÓ).
Confusing the 's' with a 'z' sound (Spanish 's' is always unvoiced).
Dropping the 's' in Caribbean accents (de'mayado).

Schwierigkeitsgrad

Lesen 2/5

Easy to recognize in text due to common suffix '-ado'.

Schreiben 3/5

Requires correct gender/number agreement and 'y' spelling.

Sprechen 3/5

Pronunciation of 'y' and soft 'd' can be tricky for beginners.

Hören 2/5

Clearly audible in most dialects, though 'd' can be soft.

Was du als Nächstes lernen solltest

Voraussetzungen

enfermo cansado caer estar suelo

Als Nächstes lernen

inconsciente síncope reanimación mareado ambulancia

Fortgeschritten

desfallecimiento exánime inanición vahído soponcio

Wichtige Grammatik

Adjective Agreement

La mujer (f) está desmayada (f).

Ser vs Estar

Él está desmayado (state), not 'Él es desmayado'.

Past Participle as Adjective

Desmayado comes from desmayar.

Prepositions with Cause

Desmayado por (due to) el calor.

Reflexive Verbs

Se desmayó (He fainted) -> Está desmayado (He is fainted).

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Beispiele nach Niveau

El hombre está desmayado en el suelo.

The man is fainted on the floor.

Uses 'estar' for a temporary state.

La niña está desmayada.

The girl is fainted.

Feminine agreement: desmayada.

Ellos están desmayados por el sol.

They are fainted because of the sun.

Plural masculine agreement.

¡Ayuda! Mi amigo está desmayado.

Help! My friend is fainted.

Exclamatory context.

Ella no duerme, está desmayada.

She is not sleeping, she is fainted.

Negative contrast.

¿Está él desmayado?

Is he fainted?

Question form.

El gato parece desmayado.

The cat looks fainted.

Uses 'parecer' (to seem).

Yo no estoy desmayado, solo cansado.

I am not fainted, just tired.

First person singular.

El abuelo cayó desmayado en el jardín.

The grandfather fell fainted in the garden.

Verb 'caer' shows the action of fainting.

Vimos a una mujer desmayada en el banco.

We saw a fainted woman on the bench.

Adjective modifying 'mujer'.

Después de correr mucho, quedó desmayado.

After running a lot, he was left fainted.

Uses 'quedar' to show the result.

¿Por qué están todos desmayados?

Why are they all fainted?

Plural agreement.

Ella estaba desmayada cuando llegué.

She was fainted when I arrived.

Imperfect tense for description.

El paciente sigue desmayado.

The patient is still fainted.

Uses 'seguir' (to continue to be).

No lo dejes desmayado en el calor.

Don't leave him fainted in the heat.

Imperative mood.

Mi hermana quedó desmayada por la sorpresa.

My sister was left fainted by the surprise.

Cause indicated by 'por'.

Al ver la sangre, el joven cayó desmayado ipso facto.

Upon seeing the blood, the young man fell fainted immediately.

B1 level vocabulary: 'ipso facto'.

La actriz permaneció desmayada durante toda la escena.

The actress remained fainted during the whole scene.

Uses 'permanecer' (to remain).

Lo encontraron desmayado y con fiebre alta.

They found him fainted and with a high fever.

Compound description.

Si ves a alguien desmayado, llama al 112.

If you see someone fainted, call 112.

Conditional sentence.

Estaba tan desmayado que no sentía nada.

He was so fainted that he felt nothing.

Consecutive clause with 'tan... que'.

Casi caigo desmayada del susto.

I almost fell fainted from the fright.

Use of 'casi' with 'caer'.

Había tres personas desmayadas por la falta de ventilación.

There were three people fainted due to the lack of ventilation.

Plural feminine agreement.

El boxeador quedó desmayado tras el golpe final.

The boxer was left fainted after the final blow.

Action-result structure.

El testigo fue hallado desmayado en su domicilio.

The witness was found fainted in his home.

Passive construction with 'ser hallado'.

A pesar de estar desmayado, su pulso era estable.

Despite being fainted, his pulse was stable.

Concessive clause with 'a pesar de'.

La multitud observaba al hombre desmayado con preocupación.

The crowd observed the fainted man with concern.

Adjective as a noun modifier.

Quedó desmayado en el acto tras el impacto del rayo.

He was left fainted instantly after the lightning strike.

Idiom 'en el acto' (instantly).

Se sospecha que el conductor estaba desmayado antes del choque.

It is suspected that the driver was fainted before the crash.

Subordinate clause with 'que'.

Las víctimas, todas desmayadas, fueron rescatadas del humo.

The victims, all fainted, were rescued from the smoke.

Appositive adjective phrase.

No es normal que siga desmayado después de tanto tiempo.

It's not normal that he is still fainted after so much time.

Subjunctive mood after 'no es normal que'.

El herido yacía desmayado entre los escombros.

The injured man lay fainted among the rubble.

Uses 'yacer' (to lie) for a more formal tone.

Su cuerpo desmayado reposaba sobre la fría piedra del calabozo.

His fainted body rested upon the cold stone of the dungeon.

Literary style and descriptive adjectives.

La noticia lo dejó prácticamente desmayado, incapaz de articular palabra.

The news left him practically fainted, unable to utter a word.

Figurative/extreme emotional use.

Se encontraba desmayado, víctima de una fatiga crónica incontrolable.

He found himself fainted, victim of an uncontrollable chronic fatigue.

Reflexive 'encontrarse' and apposition.

Aquel rostro desmayado reflejaba la dureza de la batalla.

That fainted face reflected the harshness of the battle.

Metonymy: 'rostro' for the person.

Permanecieron desmayados hasta que el alba los despertó con su luz.

They remained fainted until the dawn woke them with its light.

Temporal clause with 'hasta que'.

Fue un desmayado intento de ocultar su verdadera condición física.

It was a faint (weak) attempt to hide his true physical condition.

Rare figurative use meaning 'weak' or 'feeble'.

El joven, desmayado por la inanición, fue socorrido por los monjes.

The youth, fainted from starvation, was aided by the monks.

Use of 'inanición' (starvation).

Incluso desmayado, el guerrero no soltaba su espada.

Even fainted, the warrior would not let go of his sword.

Concessive 'incluso'.

La figura desmayada del monarca inspiraba una mezcla de lástima y pavor.

The fainted figure of the monarch inspired a mix of pity and dread.

High literary register.

Yacía desmayado, ajeno al estrépito de la tormenta que arreciaba fuera.

He lay fainted, oblivious to the din of the storm raging outside.

Complex participial and adjectival phrases.

Su pulso era tan tenue que el médico lo dio por desmayado, si no por muerto.

His pulse was so faint that the doctor took him for fainted, if not dead.

Idiomatic 'dar por' (to take for/consider).

El paisaje, bajo la neblina, cobraba un aspecto desmayado y melancólico.

The landscape, under the mist, took on a faint and melancholy appearance.

Metaphorical use of 'desmayado' meaning 'pale/weak'.

Tras el síncope, el paciente quedó desmayado en una postura antinatural.

After the syncope, the patient was left fainted in an unnatural posture.

Medical terminology 'síncope'.

Lo que parecía un hombre desmayado resultó ser una escultura de cera.

What seemed to be a fainted man turned out to be a wax sculpture.

Relative clause 'Lo que'.

Se desplomó, quedando desmayado ante la mirada atónita de los presentes.

He collapsed, remaining fainted before the astonished gaze of those present.

Gerund 'quedando' expressing result.

Ese color desmayado de las paredes le daba al hospital un aire lúgubre.

That faint color of the walls gave the hospital a lugubrious air.

Adjective applied to color (pale/faded).

Häufige Kollokationen

caer desmayado

quedar desmayado

estar profundamente desmayado

desmayado por el calor

desmayado de hambre

yacer desmayado

encontrar a alguien desmayado

permanecer desmayado

parecer desmayado

desmayado por la impresión

Häufige Phrasen

Caer redondo/a desmayado/a

— To faint completely and suddenly, like a stone.

Vio la aguja y cayó redonda desmayada.

Estar medio desmayado

— To be semi-conscious or on the verge of fainting.

Con esta fiebre, estoy medio desmayado.

Desmayado del susto

— Fainted from a sudden scare or fright.

Se quedó desmayado del susto al ver el fantasma.

Casi desmayado

— Almost fainted; used to emphasize extreme fatigue or stress.

Llegué a casa casi desmayado del cansancio.

Desmayado por el esfuerzo

— Fainted due to physical overexertion.

El atleta terminó desmayado por el esfuerzo.

Un cuerpo desmayado

— A fainted body; used often in news or literature.

Vieron un cuerpo desmayado en la orilla.

Quedarse desmayado

— To become fainted (and stay that way for a bit).

Se quedó desmayado unos minutos.

Desmayado de cansancio

— Fainted from being extremely tired.

El trabajador cayó desmayado de cansancio.

Ver a alguien desmayado

— To witness someone in a fainted state.

Nunca había visto a nadie desmayado.

Reportar un desmayado

— To report a fainted person (often used as a noun here).

Llamaron para reportar un desmayado en el centro.

Wird oft verwechselt mit

desmayado vs dormido

Dormido is just sleeping; desmayado is a medical loss of consciousness.

desmayado vs cansado

Cansado is tired; desmayado is a much more extreme physical state.

desmayado vs mareado

Mareado is dizzy; it often happens *before* someone becomes desmayado.

Redewendungen & Ausdrücke

"Dársele un desmayo"

— To have a fainting spell (verb phrase).

A la tía le dio un desmayo en la boda.

informal

"Estar desmayado de hambre"

— To be starving (hyperbole).

Trae la comida, que estoy desmayado de hambre.

colloquial

"Caer como un fardo"

— To fall heavily, often used when someone faints.

Cayó desmayado como un fardo.

informal

"Perder el sentido"

— To lose consciousness (to become desmayado).

Perdió el sentido y quedó desmayado.

neutral

"Quedar en el sitio"

— Can mean to die or to faint instantly on the spot.

Con el golpe, quedó desmayado en el sitio.

informal

"Tener un bajón"

— To have a sudden drop in energy/sugar that leads to being desmayado.

Le dio un bajón y quedó desmayada.

colloquial

"Privarse de un susto"

— To faint from a scare.

Se privó del susto y cayó desmayada.

informal (Spain)

"Estar para el arrastre"

— To be extremely exhausted, almost desmayado.

Después del trabajo estoy para el arrastre, casi desmayado.

slang

"Quedar seco"

— To fall unconscious or dead instantly.

Le dio el síncope y quedó desmayado seco.

slang

"Volver en sí"

— To wake up after being desmayado.

Estaba desmayado, pero ya volvió en sí.

neutral

Leicht verwechselbar

desmayado vs desmayo

Noun vs Adjective.

Desmayo is the event (a faint); desmayado is the person's state.

Tuvo un desmayo (noun). Está desmayado (adj).

desmayado vs desfallecido

Similar meaning.

Desfallecido emphasizes weakness or lack of food/strength; desmayado is more general.

Llegó desfallecido de hambre.

desmayado vs inconsciente

Direct synonyms.

Inconsciente is more clinical; desmayado is more common for sudden fainting.

El paciente está inconsciente.

desmayado vs atónito

Both involve a reaction to shock.

Atónito is being 'stunned' mentally; desmayado is physically fainting.

Me quedé atónito, pero no desmayado.

desmayado vs muerto

Similar physical appearance.

Muerto is permanent; desmayado is temporary.

Parecía muerto, pero solo estaba desmayado.

Satzmuster

[Subject] + estar + desmayado/a.

Juan está desmayado.

[Subject] + cayó + desmayado/a.

Ella cayó desmayada.

[Subject] + quedó + desmayado/a + por + [Cause].

Él quedó desmayado por el susto.

Al + [Verb Inf], [Subject] + quedó + desmayado/a.

Al ver la sangre, el niño quedó desmayado.

Yacer + desmayado/a + [Prepositional Phrase].

Yacía desmayado bajo la lluvia.

[Noun Phrase] + desmayado/a + [Relative Clause].

Su rostro desmayado, que otrora fue bello, asustaba.

Parecer + desmayado/a.

El perro parece desmayado.

Permanecer + desmayado/a.

Permaneció desmayada varias horas.

Wortfamilie

Substantive

desmayo (fainting spell)

desmayamiento (the act of fainting - rare)

Verben

desmayar (to faint/to lose heart)

desmayarse (to faint - reflexive)

Adjektive

desmayado (fainted)

desmayable (capable of fainting - rare)

Verwandt

desmayo

desfallecer

inconsciencia

mareo

síncope

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frequency

Common in daily conversation, news, and medical contexts.

Häufige Fehler

Using 'ser' instead of 'estar'. → El hombre está desmayado.
Fainting is a temporary state, so 'estar' is required.
Spelling it 'desmaiado'. → Desmayado.
The word is spelled with a 'y', not an 'i'.
Forgetting gender agreement. → Las niñas están desmayadas.
Adjectives must match the gender and number of the noun.
Confusing with 'cansado'. → Estoy muy cansado (I am tired).
Being 'desmayado' means you are unconscious, not just sleepy.
Using 'desmayado' to mean 'dizzy'. → Estoy mareado.
If you are dizzy but still awake, you are 'mareado'.

Tipps

Gender Agreement

Always match the ending: 'El chico desmayado' vs 'La chica desmayada'. This is the most common error for English speakers.

Estar vs Ser

Never use 'ser'. Fainting is a temporary state. 'Está desmayado' is the only correct way to describe the condition.

Action vs State

Use the verb 'desmayarse' for the action of fainting and the adjective 'desmayado' for the state of being fainted.

Heatwaves

In summer, 'desmayado por el calor' is a very useful phrase to know when visiting Spanish-speaking countries.

The Magic 'Y'

Remember the 'y' in the middle. It comes from 'mayo'. Don't use an 'i'.

Soft 'D'

The 'd' in '-ado' should be very soft, almost like the 'th' in 'breathe'. This makes you sound more native.

Medical Context

If you are in a hospital, you might hear 'inconsciente' more often, but 'desmayado' is perfectly fine too.

Telenovelas

Watch for 'desmayos' in soaps! It's a great way to hear the word used in a dramatic, emotional context.

Hunger

Use 'desmayado de hambre' to tell your friends you are starving. It's a common, slightly dramatic exaggeration.

Emergency

Knowing this word can help you save a life by accurately describing a situation to emergency services.

Einprägen

Eselsbrücke

Think of the month of 'MAY'. Imagine someone saying, 'In MAY, it is so hot I might fall down.' Des-MAY-ado.

Visuelle Assoziation

Imagine a person lying on the ground in the shape of a 'Y' (the letter in the middle of desmaYado).

Word Web

desmayo calor suelo médico inconsciente hospital ayuda mareo

Herausforderung

Try to use 'desmayado' in a sentence describing a scene from your favorite movie where a character loses consciousness.

Wortherkunft

Derived from the Spanish verb 'desmayar'. This verb comes from the Vulgar Latin '*exmagare', which is a combination of the prefix 'ex-' (out/away) and the Germanic root '*magan' (to be able/to have power).

Ursprüngliche Bedeutung: To lose power, strength, or the ability to act.

Romance (Spanish)

Kultureller Kontext

Be respectful when using this word in real-life medical situations. It describes a vulnerable state.

In English, we often say 'passed out' or 'fainted'. 'Desmayado' is the direct equivalent of 'fainted' used as an adjective.

The painting 'El desmayo' (The Faint) by various classical artists. Dramatic scenes in 'La Rosa de Guadalupe' where characters often fall desmayados. Sports news reports about footballers like Christian Eriksen (who was desmayado on the pitch).

Im Alltag üben

Kontexte aus dem Alltag

Medical Emergency

Está desmayado.
¿Cuánto tiempo lleva desmayado?
No lo muevas mientras esté desmayado.
Llamen a una ambulancia, hay un hombre desmayado.

Weather Reports

Personas desmayadas por el calor.
Evite salir para no quedar desmayado.
Muchos turistas terminaron desmayados.
El calor dejó a varios desmayados.

Sports

El jugador cayó desmayado.
Terminó la carrera desmayado.
Quedó desmayado tras el impacto.
Fue retirado del campo desmayado.

Literature/Drama

Cayó desmayada de amor.
Su cuerpo desmayado sobre el diván.
Quedó desmayado ante la tragedia.
La dama permanecía desmayada.

Daily Life

Casi me quedo desmayado del hambre.
Me encontré a mi perro desmayado de sueño.
¿Estás desmayado o solo duermes?
Pareces desmayado en esa silla.

Gesprächseinstiege

"¿Alguna vez has visto a alguien desmayado en la calle?"

"¿Qué harías si encontraras a un amigo desmayado?"

"¿Te has quedado alguna vez desmayado por el calor?"

"¿Es común ver a gente desmayada en los conciertos de tu país?"

"¿Cómo se dice 'desmayado' en tu idioma materno?"

Tagebuch-Impulse

Describe una situación en la que alguien se quedó desmayado y cómo ayudaste.

Escribe un cuento corto que empiece con: 'Lo encontramos desmayado en la puerta...'

Explica por qué es peligroso estar desmayado bajo el sol durante mucho tiempo.

Imagina que eres un médico. Escribe un reporte sobre un paciente desmayado.

¿Crees que los actores fingen bien cuando tienen que estar desmayados?

Häufig gestellte Fragen

10 Fragen

Yes, in its primary sense it means fainted or unconscious. Figuratively, it can mean extremely hungry or weak, but this is less common.

No, you should use 'estar' because being fainted is a temporary state, not a permanent characteristic.

The feminine form is 'desmayada'. You must use it if the person who fainted is female.

You use the verb 'desmayarse'. For example: 'Él se desmayó'. After that, you can say 'Él está desmayado'.

No, 'desmayado' implies a medical issue or shock. For sleeping, use 'dormido'.

Yes, you can describe an animal that has lost consciousness as 'desmayado'.

Yes, it is a very common B1-level word used in daily life and media.

'Mareado' means dizzy. You are still conscious. 'Desmayado' means you have lost consciousness completely.

It is neutral. It can be used in both formal medical reports and informal conversations.

Rarely. In poetic language, it might describe a 'faint' color or a 'drooping' flower, but this is advanced C2 usage.

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