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decapitar

to decapitate

verb deh-kah-pee-TAHR Rare

Origin: From Latin decapitare, from de- + caput ('head').

Also means

to behead

Usage Note

Decapitar is the standard formal verb for beheading, used in historical, legal, and journalistic contexts. It is a regular -ar verb with no stem changes. The related noun is decapitación ('decapitation'). It is not euphemistic; Spanish does not have a softer everyday alternative, so the word appears broadly across registers when the act is meant literally.

Examples

"El verdugo decapitó al prisionero."

Natural Translation

The executioner beheaded the prisoner.

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