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A1 verb #3,000 am häufigsten 12 Min. Lesezeit

Desaparecer

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At the A1 level, 'desaparecer' is a fundamental verb used to describe everyday situations where things or people are no longer visible. A beginner should focus on the most literal meaning: something was here, and now it is not. You will mostly use it in the present tense ('O sol desaparece') or the simple past ('O meu gato desapareceu'). It is important to learn it alongside common nouns like 'chaves' (keys), 'sol' (sun), and 'dinheiro' (money). At this stage, you don't need to worry about complex figurative meanings. Just remember that it is a regular -er verb, except for the 'ç' in 'eu desapareço'. Practicing simple sentences like 'Onde está o Pedro? Ele desapareceu!' will help you get comfortable with its use in daily conversation. You should also recognize it in signs or simple news headlines about missing items. The goal for an A1 learner is to correctly identify the verb and use it in basic subject-verb constructions to describe physical absence.

As an A2 learner, you can start using 'desaparecer' in slightly more complex sentences, often incorporating prepositions like 'em' or 'de'. You should be able to describe simple events, such as 'As nuvens desapareceram depois da chuva' or 'O ladrão desapareceu na rua'. At this level, you should also become familiar with the past participle 'desaparecido', which acts as an adjective meaning 'missing'. For example, 'O cão está desaparecido'. You will also encounter the verb in simple stories or descriptions of nature. You should begin to notice the difference between 'desaparecer' and its more informal Brazilian synonym 'sumir'. Understanding the basic conjugation in the future tense ('O problema desaparecerá') is also expected. You can now use the verb to talk about symptoms or simple feelings, such as 'A minha dor de cabeça desapareceu'. The focus at A2 is on expanding the contexts in which the verb is used, moving beyond just lost objects to include weather patterns and health.

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At the B1 level, you should be comfortable using 'desaparecer' in all major tenses, including the subjunctive mood. You will often use it to express hopes or doubts: 'Duvido que o problema desapareça tão cedo' (I doubt the problem will disappear so soon). You can now handle abstract concepts, such as the disappearance of traditions, cultures, or political influence. You should be able to use the verb in the 'Pretérito Imperfeito' to describe ongoing or habitual disappearances in the past: 'Naquela época, as florestas desapareciam rapidamente'. B1 learners should also start using 'desaparecer' in passive-like structures and relative clauses. You will likely encounter it in more varied media, such as podcasts or newspaper articles discussing social issues like 'espécies em vias de extinção' (endangered species). Your vocabulary should now include related nouns like 'desaparecimento' (disappearance). At this stage, you are expected to use the verb to narrate stories with more nuance, describing how things vanish not just physically but also from memory or relevance.

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B2 learners should use 'desaparecer' with precision, choosing it over synonyms like 'sumir' or 'esvaecer' depending on the desired level of formality and nuance. You will use it in complex sentence structures, such as conditional sentences: 'Se não tivéssemos agido, a espécie teria desaparecido'. You should be able to discuss complex topics like the digital divide, where 'desaparecer' might refer to the loss of privacy or the obsolescence of certain jobs. At this level, you can use the verb figuratively to describe social phenomena or economic trends. You should also be familiar with idiomatic expressions and common collocations, such as 'desaparecer do mapa' (to disappear from the map/vanish completely). Your ability to use 'desaparecer' in academic or professional contexts should be developing, allowing you to describe the results of experiments or the fading of market demand. You should also be sensitive to the emotional weight the word carries in historical contexts, such as the 'desaparecidos políticos' during periods of dictatorship in Latin America or Portugal.

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At the C1 level, your use of 'desaparecer' should be sophisticated and stylistically varied. You should be able to appreciate and use the verb in literary contexts, understanding how authors use it to create atmosphere or explore existential themes. You can use 'desaparecer' to describe subtle changes in light, sound, or philosophical concepts. For example, 'A linha entre a realidade e a ficção desaparece na sua obra'. You should be able to use the verb in the 'Infinitivo Pessoal' and other advanced grammatical structures flawlessly. Your understanding of synonyms should be deep, allowing you to choose 'desvanecer' for a poetic fading or 'dissipar' for the clearing of a mist. You can participate in high-level debates about environmental or social issues where 'desaparecer' is a key term. At this stage, you should also be aware of the etymological roots of the word and how they relate to other Romance languages. Your speech and writing should reflect a native-like grasp of the verb's placement and the subtle connotations it carries in different Lusophone cultures.

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As a C2 learner, you have mastered 'desaparecer' to the point where you can use it with complete spontaneity and stylistic flair. You can use it in highly technical, academic, or poetic registers without hesitation. You might use it in a philosophical treatise to discuss the nature of being and non-being, or in a complex legal argument. Your understanding of the word includes its most archaic and rare forms, as well as the most recent slang developments in various Portuguese-speaking regions. You can play with the word's meaning in wordplay or advanced rhetoric. You are fully aware of the socio-political history associated with the word, especially in the context of 'desaparecidos' in the 20th century, and can discuss these topics with the necessary cultural sensitivity and linguistic precision. At this level, the verb is just one tool in a vast arsenal, and you use it to convey exact shades of meaning, from the literal vanishing of a subatomic particle in a physics paper to the metaphorical disappearance of the self in mystical poetry.

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Desaparecer in 30 Sekunden

Desaparecer means 'to disappear' or 'to vanish' in Portuguese, used for both physical and abstract things.
It is a regular -er verb, but watch for the 'ç' in 'eu desapareço' (present tense).
Commonly used to talk about lost items, weather changes, and feelings fading away.
It is intransitive, meaning you don't 'disappear something' directly; you use 'fazer desaparecer' instead.

The Portuguese verb desaparecer is a versatile and essential word that translates to 'to disappear' or 'to vanish' in English. At its core, it describes the act of passing out of sight or existence. Whether you are talking about a set of misplaced keys, a magician performing a trick, or the sun setting behind a mountain range, this verb covers the transition from presence to absence. In everyday conversation, it is frequently used to express frustration when objects are lost, or to describe social situations where someone leaves a party without saying goodbye—a phenomenon sometimes colloquially referred to as 'sair à francesa'.

Physical Absence: This is the most common usage, referring to objects or people that can no longer be seen in a specific location. For example, 'As nuvens desapareceram' (The clouds disappeared).
Abstract Existence: Used when feelings, traditions, or problems cease to exist. 'O medo desapareceu' (The fear vanished).
Digital Context: In the modern era, it refers to files being deleted or websites going offline. 'O arquivo desapareceu do computador' (The file disappeared from the computer).

O mágico fez o coelho desaparecer num piscar de olhos.

Culturally, 'desaparecer' carries a certain weight in Portuguese history and literature. From the mysterious disappearance of King Sebastian in the 16th century, which led to the cultural myth of 'Sebastianismo', to modern news reports about missing persons, the word evokes a sense of mystery and often a search for answers. It is a regular '-er' verb, but learners must pay close attention to the spelling change in the first person singular of the present indicative—'eu desapareço'—where the 'c' becomes 'ç' to maintain the soft 's' sound before the 'o'. This linguistic nuance is a common hurdle for beginners but becomes second nature with practice.

Depois da chuva, as poças de água costumam desaparecer rapidamente sob o sol forte.

Furthermore, the verb is often paired with adverbs like 'completamente' (completely) or 'misteriosamente' (mysteriously) to add emphasis. In Brazil, you might hear the colloquial expression 'sumir', which is a very common synonym for 'desaparecer' in informal speech. However, 'desaparecer' remains the standard and more elegant choice across all Lusophone countries. Understanding the breadth of this verb allows a learner to navigate topics ranging from the mundane (losing a sock in the laundry) to the profound (the extinction of a species or the fading of a memory).

Espero que estas manchas desapareçam depois da lavagem.

Emotional State: It can describe the feeling of wanting to hide or be invisible due to embarrassment. 'Eu queria desaparecer de tanta vergonha' (I wanted to disappear from so much shame).

Os sintomas da gripe começaram a desaparecer após o terceiro dia de medicação.

Muitas espécies de animais correm o risco de desaparecer se não protegermos as florestas.

Using desaparecer correctly involves understanding its conjugation as an intransitive verb, meaning it doesn't usually take a direct object. You don't 'disappear something' (you would use 'fazer desaparecer' for that); rather, something 'disappears' on its own or through an external force. In the present tense, remember the 'ç' in 'eu desapareço'. In the past tense (Pretérito Perfeito), it follows the regular '-er' pattern: eu desapareci, você desapareceu, nós desaparecemos, eles desapareceram.

Direct Statements: Simple subject + verb: 'O gato desapareceu.' (The cat disappeared.) This is the most straightforward way to use the word.
Using Prepositions: Often used with 'em' (in/into) or 'de' (from). 'Ele desapareceu na multidão' (He disappeared into the crowd). 'A dor desapareceu de repente' (The pain disappeared suddenly).

Se você não guardar o dinheiro, ele vai desaparecer da sua carteira.

When constructing sentences about time, 'desaparecer' works well with 'há' (ago) or 'desde' (since). 'Ele desapareceu há dois dias' (He disappeared two days ago). It's also frequently used in the subjunctive mood to express wishes or possibilities: 'Espero que as manchas desapareçam' (I hope the stains disappear). Because it is a verb of motion/state change, it is often modified by adverbs of manner, such as 'lentamente' (slowly) or 'abruptamente' (abruptly), providing more color to your descriptions.

Com o passar dos anos, as velhas tradições tendem a desaparecer das grandes cidades.

In more advanced structures, you might see it in the passive voice or as a past participle ('desaparecido'). A 'desaparecido' is a missing person. This noun-usage is very common in news headlines. For example, 'A polícia procura pelo jovem desaparecido' (The police are searching for the missing young man). This transition from verb to noun/adjective is a key part of expanding your vocabulary. Remember that as an adjective, it must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies: 'crianças desaparecidas' (missing children).

O sol desapareceu atrás do horizonte, deixando o céu pintado de laranja.

The Future Tense: 'O problema desaparecerá amanhã' (The problem will disappear tomorrow). This suggests a certainty that is common in promises or predictions.

Não deixe que as suas esperanças desapareçam diante das dificuldades.

Muitos dialetos locais estão a desaparecer devido à globalização.

In the real world, desaparecer is omnipresent. You will hear it in the kitchen when someone can't find the salt, in the news during a segment on endangered species, or in a romantic song about a lover who left. In Portugal, it's common to hear it in a slightly more formal or dramatic tone than its Brazilian counterpart 'sumir'. If you're watching a Portuguese 'telenovela', a character might dramatically shout, 'Desaparece da minha frente!' (Get out of my sight! / Disappear from in front of me!), indicating a high level of anger and a desire for the other person to leave immediately.

News and Media: 'O avião desapareceu dos radares' (The plane disappeared from the radars). This is a standard phrase used in aviation news.
Daily Life: 'Onde está o meu comando? Desapareceu!' (Where is my remote? It disappeared!). Used for the common annoyance of losing small items.

Durante o nevoeiro, a ponte parece desaparecer completamente.

In a professional setting, 'desaparecer' might be used to discuss market trends or the obsolescence of technology. A manager might say, 'Se não inovarmos, a nossa vantagem competitiva vai desaparecer' (If we don't innovate, our competitive advantage will disappear). It is also found in medical contexts, describing the cessation of symptoms or the shrinking of a tumor. The word is broad enough to be used by a doctor, a scientist, a child, or a poet, making it a high-frequency verb that provides significant 'bang for your buck' in your vocabulary acquisition journey.

O suspeito desapareceu no beco escuro antes da chegada da polícia.

In social media contexts, people might use 'desaparecer' to talk about 'ghosting' or taking a break from the internet. 'Vou desaparecer por uns dias para descansar' (I'm going to disappear for a few days to rest). This modern application shows how the word evolves with technology. It's also a staple in weather reports: 'As nuvens vão desaparecer à tarde' (The clouds will disappear in the afternoon). Pay attention to how the word is used in different registers—from the clinical to the colloquial—and you'll see just how fundamental it is to the Portuguese language.

Com a nova lei, estas taxas abusivas devem desaparecer até ao final do ano.

Science and Nature: 'A água desaparece por evaporação.' (Water disappears through evaporation). Used in educational and scientific explanations.

Os antigos costumes da aldeia estão a desaparecer com a saída dos jovens.

A mancha de café desapareceu depois de usarmos o produto especial.

One of the most frequent mistakes English speakers make with desaparecer is trying to use it transitively. In English, you might say 'The magician disappeared the rabbit,' but in Portuguese, 'O mágico desapareceu o coelho' is grammatically incorrect. You must use the causative construction: 'O mágico fez o coelho desaparecer.' Another common error is forgetting the spelling change in the present indicative. Many learners write 'eu desapareco' (with a hard 'k' sound), but it must be 'eu desapareço' (with the cedilha) to maintain the phonetics of the infinitive.

Transitivity Error: Incorrect: 'Eu desapareci o meu passaporte.' Correct: 'Eu perdi o meu passaporte' or 'O meu passaporte desapareceu.'
Spelling Error: Incorrect: 'Eu desapareco.' Correct: 'Eu desapareço.' The cedilha is vital here.

Muitas pessoas confundem desaparecer com 'sumir' em contextos formais.

Confusion also arises between 'desaparecer' and 'sumir'. While they are synonyms, 'sumir' is much more informal and common in Brazil. Using 'sumir' in a legal document or a formal academic paper might be seen as slightly out of place. Conversely, using 'desaparecer' in a very casual Brazilian conversation might sound a bit stiff, though it is never wrong. Additionally, learners often struggle with the preposition that follows the verb. While English says 'disappear from,' Portuguese uses 'desaparecer de'. 'Ele desapareceu da (de + a) festa' is correct.

É um erro comum dizer 'desaparecer com algo' quando se quer dizer 'perder algo'.

Finally, don't confuse 'desaparecer' with 'aparecer' (to appear). While they share the same root, they are opposites. It sounds obvious, but in the heat of a conversation, learners sometimes swap them. Another nuance is the use of the reflexive form. While 'desaparecer-se' is occasionally seen in older literature, in modern Portuguese, the verb is almost exclusively non-reflexive. Using 'eu me desapareci' is generally considered a mistake or an archaic form that sounds unnatural today. Stick to the simple 'eu desapareci' for clarity and modern accuracy.

Não confunda a conjugação de desaparecer com a de verbos irregulares como 'dizer'.

Agreement Mistakes: When used as an adjective (desaparecido/a), ensure it matches the noun. 'As chaves estão desaparecidas' (The keys are missing) - plural and feminine.

Ao falar sobre pessoas, use 'desaparecido' com cuidado para não soar insensível.

Muitos alunos esquecem de usar o modo conjuntivo após expressões de desejo com desaparecer.

Portuguese offers several alternatives to desaparecer, each with its own nuance and register. The most common synonym is sumir. While they are often interchangeable, 'sumir' is more colloquial and carries a sense of a sudden or unexplained disappearance. If your friend leaves a WhatsApp group without saying anything, you'd say 'Ele sumiu!'. Another alternative is evaporar-se, which literally means to evaporate but is used figuratively to describe something vanishing quickly, like money or hope.

Desaparecer vs. Sumir: 'Desaparecer' is neutral/formal; 'Sumir' is informal. 'Sumir' is much more common in Brazil than in Portugal.
Desaparecer vs. Esvaecer: 'Esvaecer' is a literary term meaning to fade away or grow faint, often used for memories or light. 'Desaparecer' is more absolute.
Desaparecer vs. Extinguir-se: 'Extinguir-se' is used for fires or biological species. It implies a permanent and often collective disappearance.

O dinheiro parece evaporar-se da minha conta bancária todos os meses.

In legal or formal contexts, you might encounter ausentar-se. While 'ausentar-se' means to be absent or to leave a place, it is a more controlled and intentional form of 'disappearing'. For instance, a judge might 'ausentar-se' from the courtroom. Another related word is dissipar-se, which is used for smoke, fog, or doubts. 'A dúvida dissipou-se' (The doubt cleared up). These synonyms allow you to be more precise in your speech, choosing the word that best fits the physical or emotional state you are describing.

Com o tempo, as memórias da infância começam a esvaecer.

Lastly, consider the verb ocultar-se (to hide oneself). While 'desaparecer' describes the result (not being seen), 'ocultar-se' describes the action of hiding. If a thief 'desaparece', we don't know where he is. If he 'oculta-se', we know he is hiding somewhere nearby. Choosing between these words depends on how much information you want to convey about the intent behind the disappearance. Mastering these distinctions will take your Portuguese from basic to nuanced and expressive.

As nuvens dissiparam-se e o sol voltou a brilhar intensamente.

Idiomatic Alternative: 'Bater as botas' is a slang for dying (disappearing forever), similar to 'kick the bucket'.

A esperança nunca deve desaparecer, mesmo nos momentos mais difíceis.

O navio desapareceu no horizonte vasto do oceano Atlântico.

How Formal Is It?

Wusstest du?

The word is a 'parasynthetic' formation in Romance languages, where both a prefix and a suffix were added to a root over time. It shares the same DNA as the English word 'disappear', but has evolved through the Old Portuguese 'desaparescer'.

Aussprachehilfe

UK /dɨ.zɐ.pɐ.ɾe.ˈseɾ/

US /de.za.pa.ɾe.ˈseʁ/

The primary stress is on the last syllable: '-cer'.

Reimt sich auf

Aparecer Crescer Esquecer Merecer Nascer Obedecer Parecer Vencer

Häufige Fehler

Pronouncing the 's' as a sharp 's' instead of a voiced 'z'.
Forgetting to reduce the unstressed vowels in European Portuguese.
Stressing the 'pa' instead of the final 'cer'.
Pronouncing 'desapareço' with a 'k' sound instead of an 's' sound.
Merging the 'a' sounds too much.

Schwierigkeitsgrad

Lesen 1/5

Easy to recognize due to its similarity to 'disappear' and 'desaparecer' in Spanish.

Schreiben 2/5

The spelling change 'desapareço' in the present tense can be tricky for beginners.

Sprechen 2/5

Requires practice with the 'z' sound of the 's' and the final stressed syllable.

Hören 2/5

In fast speech, the prefix 'des-' can be very short and hard to catch.

Was du als Nächstes lernen solltest

Voraussetzungen

Aparecer (to appear) Ver (to see) Onde (where) Estar (to be) Perder (to lose)

Als Nächstes lernen

Surgir (to emerge) Esquecer (to forget) Esvaecer (to fade) Sumir (to vanish - informal) Encontrar (to find)

Fortgeschritten

Eclipsar (to eclipse) Dissipar (to dissipate) Extinguir (to extinguish) Evanescente (evanescent) Invisibilidade (invisibility)

Wichtige Grammatik

Spelling change in verbs ending in -ecer

Eu desapareço (not desapareco) to keep the soft 's' sound.

Intransitive nature of 'desaparecer'

Something disappears (O sol desapareceu). You don't disappear something.

Use of 'desaparecido' as an adjective

A criança desaparecida (matches gender and number).

Subjunctive mood for uncertainty

Espero que as nuvens desapareçam.

Preposition 'de' for origin of disappearance

Desaparecer da (de + a) vista.

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Beispiele nach Niveau

O sol desapareceu atrás das nuvens.

The sun disappeared behind the clouds.

Simple past (Pretérito Perfeito) of a regular -er verb.

Onde estão as minhas chaves? Elas desapareceram!

Where are my keys? They disappeared!

Third person plural in the past tense.

Eu desapareço se você contar o segredo.

I disappear if you tell the secret.

Note the 'ç' in the first person singular present tense.

O gato desapareceu no jardim.

The cat disappeared in the garden.

Use of the preposition 'no' (em + o).

O dinheiro desapareceu da minha carteira.

The money disappeared from my wallet.

Use of the preposition 'da' (de + a).

As manchas desaparecem com esta água.

The stains disappear with this water.

Third person plural present indicative.

O navio desapareceu no mar.

The ship disappeared in the sea.

Subject + verb + prepositional phrase.

O medo desapareceu quando vi a minha mãe.

The fear disappeared when I saw my mother.

Abstract noun as the subject.

O cão está desaparecido desde ontem.

The dog has been missing since yesterday.

Using 'desaparecido' as a past participle adjective.

As nuvens vão desaparecer à tarde.

The clouds will disappear in the afternoon.

Future construction with 'ir' + infinitive.

O médico disse que a dor vai desaparecer.

The doctor said the pain will disappear.

Indirect speech with future intention.

Muitos animais podem desaparecer da floresta.

Many animals can disappear from the forest.

Modal verb 'podem' + infinitive.

Ele desapareceu sem dizer adeus.

He disappeared without saying goodbye.

Verb + prepositional phrase 'sem dizer'.

A neve desapareceu com o calor do sol.

The snow disappeared with the heat of the sun.

Cause and effect using 'com'.

O arquivo desapareceu do meu computador.

The file disappeared from my computer.

Modern digital context.

Espero que as nuvens desapareçam logo.

I hope the clouds disappear soon.

Present subjunctive after 'espero que'.

É provável que as espécies desapareçam se o clima mudar.

It is likely that species will disappear if the climate changes.

Subjunctive mood after 'é provável que'.

O desaparecimento do explorador continua a ser um mistério.

The disappearance of the explorer continues to be a mystery.

Use of the noun 'desaparecimento'.

Antigamente, as tradições locais não desapareciam tão depressa.

In the past, local traditions did not disappear so quickly.

Pretérito Imperfeito for habitual actions in the past.

O avião desapareceu dos radares por volta das dez horas.

The plane disappeared from the radars around ten o'clock.

Formal reporting style.

Se continuarmos assim, o nosso tempo vai desaparecer.

If we continue like this, our time will disappear.

Conditional 'se' + future subjunctive (continuarmos).

A criança desaparecida foi encontrada sã e salva.

The missing child was found safe and sound.

Passive voice construction.

As dúvidas desapareceram quando ele explicou tudo.

The doubts disappeared when he explained everything.

Abstract subject in a temporal clause.

Ele quer desaparecer por uns dias para descansar.

He wants to disappear for a few days to rest.

Figurative use meaning 'to go away/take a break'.

Muitas línguas indígenas estão em risco de desaparecer.

Many indigenous languages are at risk of disappearing.

Gerund construction 'estão a desaparecer' (PT) or 'estão desaparecendo' (BR).

A sua influência política desapareceu após o escândalo.

His political influence disappeared after the scandal.

Abstract usage in a professional/political context.

Os vestígios da antiga civilização desapareceram quase por completo.

The traces of the ancient civilization disappeared almost completely.

Use of 'quase por completo' as an adverbial phrase.

Não podemos permitir que a nossa cultura desapareça.

We cannot allow our culture to disappear.

Subjunctive after a verb of permission/will.

O dinheiro dos impostos parece desaparecer em burocracia.

Tax money seems to disappear into bureaucracy.

Metaphorical use in economic discussion.

A luz do dia desaparecia lentamente no horizonte.

Daylight was slowly disappearing on the horizon.

Descriptive use of the Imperfeito.

Caso ele desapareça, chame a polícia imediatamente.

In case he disappears, call the police immediately.

Subjunctive after the conjunction 'caso'.

A confiança entre as partes desapareceu totalmente.

The trust between the parties has disappeared totally.

Emphasis with the adverb 'totalmente'.

A linha entre o sonho e a vigília desaparece na sua prosa.

The line between dream and wakefulness disappears in his prose.

Literary/Artistic analysis context.

O autor explora o tema do sujeito que desaparece na multidão urbana.

The author explores the theme of the subject who disappears in the urban crowd.

Sociological/Literary discussion.

As provas foram destruídas para que qualquer rasto desaparecesse.

The evidence was destroyed so that any trace would disappear.

Imperfect subjunctive after 'para que'.

Com a gentrificação, o comércio tradicional tende a desaparecer.

With gentrification, traditional commerce tends to disappear.

Socio-economic analysis.

O brilho nos seus olhos desapareceu quando ouviu a notícia.

The sparkle in her eyes disappeared when she heard the news.

Metaphorical/Emotional description.

A biodiversidade está a desaparecer a um ritmo alarmante.

Biodiversity is disappearing at an alarming rate.

Scientific/Environmental reporting.

Muitas das nossas preocupações desapareceriam se fôssemos mais calmos.

Many of our worries would disappear if we were calmer.

Conditional mood + imperfect subjunctive.

O navio fantasma desaparecera anos antes de ser avistado novamente.

The ghost ship had disappeared years before being sighted again.

Pretérito Mais-Que-Perfeito (literary past).

A ontologia do ser pressupõe um constante aparecer e desaparecer.

The ontology of being presupposes a constant appearing and disappearing.

Philosophical terminology.

O historiador analisa como impérios inteiros podem desaparecer da memória coletiva.

The historian analyzes how entire empires can disappear from collective memory.

Academic/Historical discourse.

A sua voz, outrora potente, desaparecera num sussurro inaudível.

His voice, once powerful, had disappeared into an inaudible whisper.

High literary style with 'outrora'.

A fronteira entre o eu e o outro desaparece na experiência mística.

The border between the self and the other disappears in the mystical experience.

Theological/Philosophical context.

As nuances do dialeto desapareceram sob a hegemonia da língua padrão.

The nuances of the dialect disappeared under the hegemony of the standard language.

Linguistic hegemony discussion.

É imperativo que não deixemos a nossa herança desaparecer no esquecimento.

It is imperative that we do not let our heritage disappear into oblivion.

Complex subjunctive construction with 'imperativo'.

O conceito de privacidade poderá desaparecer totalmente na era da vigilância digital.

The concept of privacy may disappear totally in the era of digital surveillance.

Future conditional modal 'poderá'.

A dor, embora atenuada, nunca desapareceu por completo do seu íntimo.

The pain, although attenuated, never completely disappeared from his inner self.

Concessive clause 'embora' + past participle.

Häufige Kollokationen

Desaparecer completamente

Desaparecer misteriosamente

Desaparecer no horizonte

Desaparecer da vista

Desaparecer sem rasto

Fazer desaparecer

Desaparecer num instante

Desaparecer aos poucos

Desaparecer de vez

Desaparecer do mapa

Häufige Phrasen

Desaparece!

— A harsh way to tell someone to go away or get out of your sight.

Estou farto de ti, desaparece!

Desaparecer em combate

— To go missing during a military operation or battle.

O soldado foi declarado desaparecido em combate.

Desaparecer no ar

— To vanish into thin air, often used for something that cannot be explained.

As chaves parecem ter desaparecido no ar.

Desaparecer da circulação

— To stop being seen in public or social circles.

Desde que casou, ele desapareceu da circulação.

Fazer desaparecer as provas

— To get rid of evidence, usually in a criminal context.

O criminoso tentou fazer desaparecer as provas do crime.

Desaparecer da face da terra

— To vanish completely and utterly from existence.

É como se ele tivesse desaparecido da face da terra.

Desaparecer num piscar de olhos

— To vanish very quickly, in the blink of an eye.

A sobremesa desapareceu num piscar de olhos.

Desaparecer do radar

— To stop being noticed or monitored by others.

A empresa desapareceu do radar dos investidores.

Desejar desaparecer

— To feel so embarrassed that you want to be invisible.

Tive tanta vergonha que desejei desaparecer.

Desaparecer como fumaça

— To vanish quickly and without leaving anything behind, like smoke.

As nossas poupanças desapareceram como fumaça.

Wird oft verwechselt mit

Desaparecer vs Aparecer

It is the exact opposite. 'Aparecer' means to appear, 'Desaparecer' means to vanish.

Desaparecer vs Perder

You 'perder' (lose) something. The thing 'desaparecer' (disappears). You can't 'desaparecer' an object.

Desaparecer vs Sumir

Often used as a synonym, but 'sumir' is much more informal and common in Brazil.

Redewendungen & Ausdrücke

"Desaparecer do mapa"

— To vanish completely, often used for places or people who cut off all contact.

Depois da falência, ele desapareceu do mapa.

Informal

"Fazer-se desaparecer"

— To intentionally make oneself absent or hide from a situation.

Quando o trabalho aperta, ele faz-se desaparecer.

Colloquial

"Desaparecer como por encanto"

— To vanish as if by magic, suddenly and unexpectedly.

As nuvens negras desapareceram como por encanto.

Neutral

"Desaparecer na poeira"

— To be left far behind or to vanish while moving quickly.

O carro desportivo desapareceu na poeira.

Colloquial

"Desaparecer das vistas"

— To go out of sight, often used for something moving away.

O navio foi desaparecendo das vistas no horizonte.

Neutral

"Cair no esquecimento"

— A related idiom meaning to disappear from memory.

Muitas obras de arte acabam por cair no esquecimento.

Formal

"Sair de cena"

— To leave a situation or stop being the center of attention (to disappear from the stage).

O político decidiu sair de cena após a derrota.

Neutral

"Pôr-se na alheta"

— A Portuguese slang for leaving quickly (disappearing from a place).

Quando viu a polícia, ele pôs-se na alheta.

Slang (Portugal)

"Bater em retirada"

— To retreat or disappear from a confrontation.

O exército inimigo bateu em retirada.

Neutral

"Esfumar-se"

— To vanish like smoke, often used for hopes or dreams.

Os seus sonhos de glória esfumaram-se rapidamente.

Literary

Leicht verwechselbar

Desaparecer vs Desperdiçar

Similar prefix and length.

Desperdiçar means to waste (time, money). Desaparecer means to vanish.

Não desperdice o seu tempo. O tempo desaparece depressa.

Desaparecer vs Desapontar

Both start with 'Desap-'.

Desapontar means to disappoint. Desaparecer means to disappear.

Ele não me quer desapontar, por isso não vai desaparecer.

Desaparecer vs Despachar

Similar sound at the beginning.

Despachar means to hurry up or to send off. Desaparecer means to vanish.

Despacha-te antes que o sol desapareça!

Desaparecer vs Desfalecer

Both end in '-ecer'.

Desfalecer means to faint or grow weak. Desaparecer means to vanish.

Ele quase desfaleceu quando viu o navio desaparecer.

Desaparecer vs Parecer

It is the root word.

Parecer means to seem or look like. Desaparecer means to disappear.

Parece que o sol vai desaparecer.

Satzmuster

[Subject] + desapareceu.

O sol desapareceu.

[Subject] + desapareceu + de + [Place].

Ele desapareceu da casa.

Espero que + [Subject] + desapareça.

Espero que a chuva desapareça.

Fazer + [Object] + desaparecer.

O mágico fez o lenço desaparecer.

[Abstract Subject] + desaparece + em + [Context].

A verdade desaparece na mentira.

[Subject] + desaparecera + [Time Phrase].

O rasto desaparecera há séculos.

[Subject] + vai + desaparecer.

A dor vai desaparecer.

[Subject] + está + desaparecido.

O gato está desaparecido.

Wortfamilie

Substantive

Desaparecimento (disappearance)

Desaparecido (missing person)

Verben

Desaparecer (to disappear)

Aparecer (to appear - antonym)

Reaparecer (to reappear)

Adjektive

Desaparecido (missing)

Aparecido (appeared)

Verwandt

Aparência (appearance)

Aparente (apparent)

Transparentemente (transparently)

Visibilidade (visibility)

Invisível (invisible)

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So verwendest du es

frequency

Highly frequent in both spoken and written Portuguese.

Häufige Fehler

Eu desapareci as minhas chaves. → As minhas chaves desapareceram.
Desaparecer is intransitive. You can't perform the action on an object. Use 'perdi' if you want to say you lost them.
Eu desapareco. → Eu desapareço.
You must add the cedilha (ç) to maintain the soft 's' sound before the letter 'o'.
Ele desapareceu de o mapa. → Ele desapareceu do mapa.
Always contract the preposition 'de' with the article 'o' or 'a'.
O mágico desapareceu o coelho. → O mágico fez o coelho desaparecer.
To express making something vanish, use the 'fazer + infinitive' construction.
Eu me desapareci. → Eu desapareci.
The verb is not reflexive in modern Portuguese. Avoid using 'me' with it.

Tipps

The Cedilha Rule

Always remember to use the 'ç' in 'eu desapareço'. Without it, the word would be pronounced with a hard 'k' sound, which is incorrect in Portuguese phonetics for this verb.

Synonym Choice

Use 'desaparecer' for weather, scientific facts, and formal news. Use 'sumir' when you're talking to friends about someone who hasn't texted back.

Stress the End

The stress in 'des-a-pa-re-CER' is always on the last syllable. This is true for almost all Portuguese verbs in the infinitive form.

Cultural Sensitivity

Be aware that the word 'desaparecidos' has strong political connotations in Latin America and Portugal related to past dictatorships.

Intransitive Verb

You cannot 'disappear' an object in Portuguese. You must 'make it disappear' (fazer desaparecer) or 'lose it' (perder).

Weather Reports

You will hear 'desaparecer' constantly in weather reports to describe clouds clearing or fog lifting. It's a key word for understanding local forecasts.

Literary Flair

In stories, use 'desaparecer no horizonte' to create a sense of scale and distance. It's a classic descriptive phrase.

Getting Rid of Someone

If you are very angry, 'Desaparece!' is a strong way to say 'Go away!'. Use it with caution as it is quite rude.

Tech Talk

When a file is gone, use 'O ficheiro desapareceu'. It's the standard way to describe digital loss.

Cognate Power

Since 'desaparecer' is so similar to 'disappear', use that link to quickly add it to your active vocabulary without much effort.

Einprägen

Eselsbrücke

Think of 'Des-' (to undo) and 'Aparecer' (to appear). If you 'undo' an 'appearance', you disappear! Also, it sounds like 'Disappear' in English, which makes it easier to remember.

Visuelle Assoziation

Imagine a magician's hat where a rabbit is visible, then a 'Des-' wand waves over it, and the rabbit vanishes. The rabbit 'desapareceu'.

Word Web

Sumir Vanish Missing Invisible Lost Ghost Magic Mist

Herausforderung

Try to use 'desaparecer' in three different tenses today: once for something you lost, once for the weather, and once for a feeling.

Wortherkunft

From the Latin 'dis-' (expressing reversal or removal) and 'apparescere' (to begin to appear), which comes from 'apparere' (to appear).

Ursprüngliche Bedeutung: The reversal of appearing; hence, to vanish or cease to be visible.

Romance (Latin root)

Kultureller Kontext

Be extremely sensitive when using the noun 'desaparecidos' in historical or political discussions in Brazil or Portugal, as it evokes traumatic memories of state violence.

The English 'disappear' is used similarly, but Portuguese often uses the causative 'fazer desaparecer' where English might use 'disappear' as a transitive verb (e.g., 'He disappeared the evidence').

King Sebastian (The most famous 'desaparecido' in Portuguese history). The 'Desaparecidos' of the Brazilian military dictatorship. Literature: José Saramago often uses themes of things or people vanishing in his allegorical novels.

Im Alltag üben

Kontexte aus dem Alltag

Losing personal items

As minhas chaves desapareceram.
O meu telemóvel desapareceu da mesa.
Não sei como isto pôde desaparecer.
Tudo o que eu guardo desaparece!

Weather and Nature

O sol desapareceu atrás das nuvens.
O nevoeiro vai desaparecer logo.
As estrelas desapareceram com o amanhecer.
A neve desaparece na primavera.

Missing Persons

Ele está desaparecido há três dias.
A polícia procura a criança desaparecida.
O avião desapareceu sem deixar rasto.
Foi declarado como desaparecido.

Emotions and Health

A dor desapareceu de repente.
O meu medo desapareceu quando cheguei.
A esperança nunca deve desaparecer.
Os sintomas desapareceram com o remédio.

Social Situations

Ele desapareceu da festa sem avisar.
Vou desaparecer por uns tempos.
Ela desapareceu da minha vida.
Desaparece da minha frente!

Gesprächseinstiege

"Já alguma vez perdeste algo importante que desapareceu misteriosamente?"

"O que farias se o teu telemóvel desaparecesse agora mesmo?"

"Achas que as tradições antigas estão a desaparecer no teu país?"

"Qual é o mistério de um desaparecimento que mais te fascina?"

"Se pudesses desaparecer por um dia, para onde irias?"

Tagebuch-Impulse

Escreve sobre um objeto que desapareceu da tua vida e do qual sentes falta.

Reflete sobre como a tecnologia está a fazer desaparecer certos hábitos antigos.

Imagina que és um mágico e descreve o teu melhor truque de fazer desaparecer algo.

Descreve um momento em que sentiste que o teu stress desapareceu completamente.

Escreve uma história curta sobre um navio que desaparece no Triângulo das Bermudas.

Häufig gestellte Fragen

10 Fragen

Yes, it is a regular -er verb, but it has a minor spelling change in the first person singular of the present indicative ('eu desapareço') to keep the pronunciation correct. All other forms follow the regular pattern.

Yes, you can use it for people. 'Ele desapareceu' can mean he left a place suddenly or that he is truly missing and no one knows where he is.

'Desaparecer' is the standard, more formal term used in all Portuguese-speaking countries. 'Sumir' is very common in Brazil and is much more informal. In a news report, you'd usually see 'desaparecer'.

Since 'desaparecer' is intransitive, you must use the causative construction: 'Ele fez o coelho desaparecer'. You cannot say 'Ele desapareceu o coelho'.

As a past participle used as an adjective, it means 'missing'. As a noun, 'um desaparecido' refers to a missing person. It is very common in the news.

It often takes 'de' (from) or 'em' (in). For example: 'Desaparecer da vista' (to disappear from sight) or 'Desaparecer na multidão' (to disappear in the crowd).

In some poetic or very formal contexts, it can be a euphemism for passing away, implying the person has vanished from this world, but 'morrer' or 'falecer' are much more common.

It follows the regular -er pattern: eu desapareci, tu desapareceste, ele/ela desapareceu, nós desaparecemos, vós desaparecestes, eles/elas desapareceram.

Yes, it is used in Brazil, especially in formal writing, news, and literature. However, in casual speech, Brazilians are much more likely to use 'sumir'.

The most direct opposite is 'aparecer' (to appear). Other opposites include 'surgir' (to emerge) and 'permanecer' (to remain).

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