decapitar

deh-kah-pee-tahr/dekapitaɾ/

“decapitar” means “to behead” in Spanish (removing the head from a body).

to behead

Also: to decapitate, to top

VerbB2regular ar

A high-quality storybook illustration of a stone statue of a king with its head resting on the ground next to the pedestal.

gerunddecapitando

past Participledecapitado

infinitivedecapitar

📝 In Action

En la Revolución Francesa, solían decapitar a los nobles.

During the French Revolution, they used to behead the nobles.

El jardinero recomendó decapitar las flores marchitas.

The gardener recommended snipping off the tops of the withered flowers.

Vándalos decapitaron la estatua de la plaza anoche.

Vandals beheaded the statue in the square last night.

Word Connections

Synonyms

degollar (to slit the throat)
descabezar (to remove the head/top)

Common Collocations

decapitar a una estatua – to behead a statue
amenaza de decapitar – threat to behead

🔄 Conjugations

subjunctive

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesdecapitaran

yodecapitara

túdecapitaras

vosotrosdecapitarais

nosotrosdecapitáramos

él/ella/usteddecapitara

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesdecapiten

yodecapite

túdecapites

vosotrosdecapitéis

nosotrosdecapitemos

él/ella/usteddecapite

indicative

preterite

ellos/ellas/ustedesdecapitaron

yodecapité

túdecapitaste

vosotrosdecapitasteis

nosotrosdecapitamos

él/ella/usteddecapitó

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesdecapitaban

yodecapitaba

túdecapitabas

vosotrosdecapitabais

nosotrosdecapitábamos

él/ella/usteddecapitaba

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesdecapitan

yodecapito

túdecapitas

vosotrosdecapitáis

nosotrosdecapitamos

él/ella/usteddecapita

View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "decapitar" in Spanish:

to behead→to decapitate→to top→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: decapitar

Question 1 of 3

Which body part is involved in the verb 'decapitar'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼

cabeza(head) — Noun

decapitación(beheading) — Noun

decapitado(beheaded) — Adjective

🎵 Rhymes▼

cantar hablar saltar

📚 Etymology▼

From Latin 'decapitare', which combines 'de' (off or away) and 'caput' (head).

First recorded: 15th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: decapitateFrench: décapiter

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'decapitar' used for plants?

Yes, specifically in gardening to mean 'pinching off' the dead heads of flowers to encourage growth.

What is the difference between 'decapitar' and 'degollar'?

'Decapitar' is the complete removal of the head. 'Degollar' usually refers to slitting the throat.

Is this word polite?

It is a neutral, factual term, but because of its meaning, it is usually used in serious or graphic contexts.