verb
disappoint, let down, fail to meet expectations
B1
Means 'to disappoint' or 'to let down' (fail to meet expectations). Regular weak verb with participle enttäuscht and auxiliary haben. Non-reflexive and transitive: you enttäuschen someone or something. Common in emotional contexts; forms: enttäuscht (Perfekt). Also appears in passive constructions (to be disappointed).
Examples
Die Werbung hat ihre Erwartungen nicht erfüllt und die Kunden enttäuscht.
The advertising failed to meet their expectations and disappointed the customers.
Er enttäuschte seine Eltern.
He disappointed his parents.
Obwohl der Film vielversprechend war, enttäuschte er die Zuschauer, sodass die Kritiken negativ ausfielen.
Although the film seemed promising, it disappointed the viewers, so the reviews turned out negative.
Details
Mnemonics
visualize someone with dropped shoulders and a sad face after hopes are not met
sounds like 'ent-toy-shen' — imagine a toy breaking and disappointing a child
Notes
enttäuschen is a transitive verb meaning to disappoint. It is regular (weak) and uses haben in compound tenses. Common collocations: jemanden enttäuschen (to disappoint someone), enttäuschend (adjective 'disappointing').