The correct spelling is disappoint, not dissapoint. If you’re searching for the correct spelling of dissapoint, remember that the standard English word has one s after “di” and two p letters in the middle. Cambridge Dictionary and Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary both list disappoint as a verb meaning to fail to meet someone’s hopes or expectations. This guide explains the dictionary evidence, the spelling pattern, common mistakes, examples, and a practical way to remember the correct form.
What “Disappoint” Means
Disappoint is a verb. It means to make someone unhappy because something did not happen as expected, or because a person or result failed to meet expectations.
For example: “The team worked hard but did not want to disappoint its supporters.”
The verb can also describe a hope or expectation that does not become reality. For example, “The decision disappointed her hopes of studying abroad.”
At a glance
- Part of speech: Verb
- Pronunciation: dis-uh-POINT
- IPA: /ˌdɪs.əˈpɔɪnt/
- Syllables: Three
The Answer in Brief
Disappoint is the standard English spelling. Dissapoint is a misspelling, not an accepted British or American spelling variant.
The key is to write dis + appoint, with one s and two p letters. Although informal online messages sometimes use the incorrect form, that does not make it standard English.
| Spelling | Dictionary Status | Where It’s Standard | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| disappoint | Standard English verb | American and British English | I don’t want to disappoint my family. |
| dissapoint | Misspelling | Not standard in formal or edited writing | ✗ I never want to dissapoint you. |
What the Dictionaries and Style Guides Say
Cambridge Dictionary records disappoint as a verb used when someone or something fails to satisfy a person’s hopes or expectations. Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary also lists the verb and includes the sense of preventing hopes or expectations from becoming reality. Both support the standard spelling disappoint.
Neither dictionary presents dissapoint as an accepted alternative spelling. There is no British-versus-American spelling split to learn here: both varieties use disappoint.
No special style-guide disagreement is needed to settle this question. For ordinary schoolwork, essays, reports, emails, and professional writing, use disappoint. A spelling used in a casual post or a joke should not be treated as dictionary approval.
Where the Confusion Comes From
The mistake is understandable because English spelling does not always match the way a word sounds. When you say disappoint quickly, you may focus on the strong “point” sound and fail to notice the exact sequence of letters before it.
The word also contains a familiar-looking beginning, dis-, followed by appoint. Thinking of it as two parts makes the spelling easier to check:
dis + appoint = disappoint
The mistake in dissapoint is adding an extra s and losing the correct letter pattern. The safest approach is to learn the written form rather than rely on pronunciation alone.
The Rule You Can Reuse
When a word contains a familiar prefix or word part, checking its structure can help you avoid adding or removing letters by mistake. Here, disappoint is best remembered as dis + appoint, not as diss + apoint.
The following words are useful comparisons:
| Word | Correct Spelling | Common Error |
|---|---|---|
| disappear | disappear | dissapear |
| disagree | disagree | dissagree |
| disapprove | disapprove | dissaprove |
| disallow | disallow | dissallow |
| disappointment | disappointment | dissapointment |
| disappointing | disappointing | dissapointing |
These words are reminders to check the actual spelling of each word rather than assume that an extra letter belongs there. English spelling patterns are helpful, but a dictionary remains the best authority when you’re unsure.
Which Form to Use in Academic, Business, and Everyday Writing
| Setting | Recommended Form | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Academic writing | disappoint | Standard spelling expected in essays and assignments |
| Business communication | disappoint | Appropriate for professional emails and reports |
| Everyday messages | disappoint | Correct in texts, captions, and conversations written in English |
| Informal memes or jokes | disappoint for standard spelling | An intentional misspelling may be used for humour, but it remains nonstandard |
If you’re completing an exam or publishing an article, avoid the misspelling. If you’re quoting a post that deliberately uses dissapoint as a joke, preserve the original spelling only when the exact wording matters.
Examples in Real Sentences
The following sentences show how to use the correct form naturally.
- I don’t want to disappoint my parents after all their support.
- The results may disappoint students who expected higher marks.
- We promised the client a reliable service and must not disappoint them.
- She was afraid that cancelling the trip would disappoint her friends.
- The new book did not disappoint its readers.
- I hate to disappoint you, but the event has been postponed.
- The company hopes its new product will not disappoint customers.
Notice that disappoint can be used with a person or group receiving the disappointing result. It can also describe a performance, product, decision, or outcome that fails to meet expectations.
Mistakes Learners Make Most
Mistake 1: Adding an extra s
- ✗ I don’t want to dissapoint anyone.
- ✓ I don’t want to disappoint anyone.
The correct spelling begins dis-, followed by appoint.
Mistake 2: Dropping a p
- ✗ I don’t want to disapoint you.
- ✓ I don’t want to disappoint you.
The middle of the word contains two consecutive p letters.
Mistake 3: Misspelling the related noun
- ✗ Her dissapointment was clear.
- ✓ Her disappointment was clear.
The noun disappointment keeps the same spelling pattern as the verb.
Mistake 4: Using the wrong word form
- ✗ The film was disappoint.
- ✓ The film was disappointing.
Use disappointing to describe something that causes disappointment. Use disappointed to describe how a person feels.
How to Remember It
Break the word into two familiar parts: DIS + APPOINT. The word appoint is already a correctly spelled word, so keeping it intact helps you remember where the double p belongs.
Say the word slowly, write it once, and check the two letters separately: one s in dis and two p letters in appoint. This method works because it gives you a spelling pattern to check instead of relying only on sound.
Practice
1. Choose the correct spelling: I don’t want to ___ my teacher.
- A. dissapoint
- B. disappoint
Answer: B — disappoint. The standard spelling has one s and two p letters.
2. Complete the sentence: The disappointing result did not ___ the team.
Answer: disappoint. The base verb follows did not, so use disappoint, not disappointed.
3. Choose the correct noun: Her ___ was obvious when the concert was cancelled.
- A. disappointment
- B. dissapointment
Answer: A — disappointment. The noun keeps the same disappoint- spelling pattern.
4. Complete the sentence: The film was ___, but the actors performed well.
Answer: disappointing. Use the adjective ending in -ing to describe something that fails to meet expectations.
5. Correct this sentence: “I never want to dissapoint my friends.”
Answer: “I never want to disappoint my friends.” Replace the misspelling with the standard form.
The Final Talk
The correct spelling is disappoint, and dissapoint is a misspelling in standard English. Remember the structure dis + appoint: one s, followed by the two p letters in appoint. The verb means to fail to meet someone’s hopes or expectations, and its related forms include disappointed, disappointing, and disappointment. When in doubt, check a reliable dictionary rather than relying on pronunciation or informal online spelling.
For more help, see our related lesson on commonly confused words.
FAQs
Disappoint means to make someone feel unhappy because something did not happen as expected or failed to meet their hopes. For example, “I don’t want to disappoint you” means you don’t want to let someone down or fail to meet their expectations.
Useful synonyms include let down, dishearten, discourage, and frustrate. They are not always interchangeable: let down is conversational, while dishearten focuses on reducing someone’s hope or confidence. Choose the word that best matches the situation, and remember that disappoint is usually the clearest choice when expectations have not been met.
Disappoint is a verb, not a standard noun. The related noun is disappointment, which names the feeling or the situation that causes it. For example, “The news disappointed us” uses the verb, while “The news was a disappointment” uses the noun. Knowing these related forms helps you choose the correct word in a sentence.
The phrase “son, I am dissapoint” is an informal internet meme that uses intentionally nonstandard English for comic effect. The unusual grammar and spelling help create its humorous tone. It may appear in jokes or captions, but it should not be copied as a model for correct English in school assignments, professional messages, or edited writing.
In standard English, write “I am disappointed” when you mean that you feel unhappy because something did not meet your expectations. You can also say “I am disappointed in you” or “I am disappointed with the result,” depending on the context. The phrase “I am dissapoint” is associated with informal meme language, not standard grammar.
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