cadáver

corpse

noun kah-DAH-behr Less Common

Origin: Latin 'cadaver'

Usage Note

Cadáver carries the written accent on the middle syllable (cadáver), which is essential to preserve the irregular stress (words ending in -r are normally stressed on the last syllable without an accent). In forensic or medical Spanish it is the neutral term; cuerpo ('body') is used more broadly in everyday speech. The English 'cadaver' is a direct borrowing from the same Latin root, making this a reliable cognate.

Examples

"La policía encontró el cadáver al amanecer."

Natural Translation

The police found the corpse at dawn.

Related Words

Explore Spanish by topic

SpanishNow

Por vs Para in Spanish: One Mental Model, No Acronyms

Por looks backward at cause and path; para looks forward at goal and destination. Master por vs para in Spanish with one mental model — no acronyms needed.

June 3, 2026 6 min read

SpanishNow

How to Memorize Spanish Vocabulary Fast (That Sticks)

Memorize Spanish vocabulary fast with a 15-minute daily loop: spaced repetition, frequency-first words, and example-sentence cards that actually stick.

June 9, 2026 6 min read

SpanishNow

Spanish Diminutives: What -ito and -ita Really Mean

Spanish diminutives rarely mean 'little.' Learn what -ito and -ita really signal — warmth, softening, downplaying — plus the -cito and -ecito formation rules.

June 9, 2026 6 min read

SpanishNow

Spanish Numbers 1-100: Count, Spell & Pronounce

Spanish numbers 1 to 100 are a system, not a list: three patterns build every number. Master the spelling, the accent rule, and how to say prices fast.

June 9, 2026 6 min read