Spanish word of the day: Despiste

What does despiste mean?

Despiste (masculine noun) – This word describes a moment of absentmindedness, distraction, or forgetfulness. A despiste can be anything from leaving your keys at home to missing an appointment or making a silly mistake because you were daydreaming.

Example sentences with despiste

• Por un despiste, me olvidé de enviar el informe.
  🤦‍♂️ Because I was distracted, I forgot to send the report.

• Fue un simple despiste, no me di cuenta de la señal de stop.
  🚦It was just a moment of inattention—I didn’t notice the stop sign.

• Siempre tengo algún despiste cuando estoy cansado.
  😴 I’m always a bit absentminded when I’m tired.

Despiste in context

You’ll hear despiste in everyday Spanish whenever someone wants to explain a small mistake or a lapse in attention. It’s a gentle, almost forgiving word—perfect for those moments when you forget something minor or get distracted by your thoughts. People often use it at work, at school, or in casual conversation to excuse a slip-up or to laugh about a silly error.

If you want to sound natural in Spanish, use despiste when you’re talking about those little moments when your head is in the clouds and real life catches you off guard. It’s a relatable word for anyone who’s ever lost their train of thought or made a mistake simply because they weren’t fully present.