What does the Spanish word consternación mean?

Question

I am having trouble understanding the meaning of the word consternación. My book says it means desánimo but the computer gives me the definition of distress, dismay, and panic. Does it mean both? What is the definition?

Answer 1

you need to remember that most words when translated give an idea not directly a word, so it is the idea of panic, and distress

Yes. It depends on the context. Dismay, discouragement, distress are all pretty similar. Panic is stretching it. - KevinB, Oct 24, 2010

Answer 2

it´s pretty much like consternation, isn´t it? Amazement or dismay that hinders or throws into confusion.

Yes. Same Latin root. - KevinB, Oct 24, 2010

Answer 3

See the definition of consternación on SpanishDict here and the definition of the English word consternation here (they're cognates, which is to say that they both sound the same and have the same meaning).

Consternation—"a feeling of anxiety, dismay, dread, or confusion" (World English Dictionary)

Thank you! You really helped me alot :) - love2dance4eva, Oct 24, 2010