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"Desmayarse" is a pronominal verb which is often translated as "to faint", and "desvanecerse" is a pronominal verb which is also often translated as "to faint". Learn more about the difference between "desmayarse" and "desvanecerse" below.
desmayarse(
dehs
-
mah
-
yahr
-
seh
)A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
a. to faint
Me desmayé cuando vi a la aterradora criatura.I fainted when I saw the terrifying creature.
desmayar
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
a. to lose heart
¡No desmayes ahora, que te falta poco para terminar la tesis y graduarte!Don't lose heart now. You are so close to finishing your thesis and graduating!
b. to become demoralized (United States)
Regionalism used in the United States
Muchos escritores sienten su ánimo desmayar cuando se bloquean y no pueden escribir.Many writers become demoralized when they get stuck and can't write.
c. to become demoralised (United Kingdom)
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
Es difícil no desmayar cuando encuentras tantos obstáculos en tu camino.It is hard not to become demoralised when you encounter so many obstacles on your path.
d. to falter
Aun después de que el equipo visitante anotara un segundo gol, nuestro equipo nunca desmayó.Even after the visiting team scored a second goal, our team never faltered.
desvanecerse(
dehs
-
bah
-
neh
-
sehr
-
seh
)A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
1. (medicine)
a. to faint
Gabriela dijo que se sentía mal y de repente se desvaneció.Gabriela said she felt bad and suddenly fainted.
a. to clear (smoke or fog)
Aparcamos a un lado de la carretera y esperamos hasta que la niebla se desvaneció.We parked on one side of the road and waited for the fog to clear.
b. to disperse (smoke or fog)
El humo tardó mucho en desvanecerse.It took a long time for the smoke to disperse.
c. to be dispelled (doubts or fears)
Mis dudas se desvanecieron en el momento en que lo vi entrar por la puerta.My doubts were dispelled the moment I saw him coming through the door.
d. to fade (memory or hope)
Con el paso del tiempo sus recuerdos empezaron a desvanecerse.His memories began to fade with the passing of time.
e. to vanish (suspicions or vision)
Nuestras sospechas se desvanecieron cuando lo conocimos mejor.Our suspicions vanished when we got to know him better.
desvanecer
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. to dispel (doubts or fears)
Su carta desvaneció todas mis dudas.His letter dispelled all my doubts.
4. (to decolor)
a. to fade
El tiempo había desvanecido los colores de los tapices.Time had faded the colors of the tapestries.
a. to blur
Una niebla densa desvanecía los contornos de los edificios.A dense fog blurred the outlines of the buildings.
