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.
Related Words
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