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degollar

to slit the throat of

verb deh-goh-YAHR Rare

Origin: From Latin de- + gula (throat).

Also means

to slaughter

Usage Note

Degollar is an o→ue stem-changing verb (degüello, degüellas). It literally means to cut someone's throat and is used in both literal contexts (slaughtering animals) and figurative ones (nos van a degollar — 'they're going to fleece us'). The noun degüello also names a bugle call signaling no quarter in battle.

Examples

"El carnicero degolló al cordero rápidamente."

Natural Translation

The butcher slaughtered the lamb quickly.

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