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descifrar

des-see-FRAR/desiˈfɾaɾ/

“descifrar” means “to decipher” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

to decipher

Also: to decode
VerbB1regular ar
A detective looking at a mysterious scroll with symbols and a magnifying glass.
gerunddescifrando
past Participledescifrado
infinitivedescifrar

📝 In Action

Los arqueólogos lograron descifrar los jeroglíficos antiguos.

B1

The archaeologists managed to decipher the ancient hieroglyphs.

Ella descifró el mensaje secreto en pocos minutos.

A2

She decoded the secret message in a few minutes.

Nadie ha podido descifrar este código informático todavía.

B2

No one has been able to decipher this computer code yet.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • decodificar (to decode)

Antonyms

  • cifrar (to encrypt/encode)
  • encriptar (to encrypt)

Common Collocations

  • descifrar un código – to decipher a code
  • descifrar un mensaje – to decipher a message

to figure out

Also: to make out, to unravel
VerbB2regular ar
A person successfully fitting the final piece into a large, complex jigsaw puzzle.
gerunddescifrando
past Participledescifrado
infinitivedescifrar

📝 In Action

No puedo descifrar la letra del médico.

A2

I can't make out the doctor's handwriting.

Intentamos descifrar por qué se comportaba de esa manera.

B2

We tried to figure out why he was behaving that way.

Es difícil descifrar sus verdaderas intenciones.

C1

It is hard to figure out her true intentions.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • desentrañar (to unravel/solve)
  • interpretar (to interpret)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • descifrar un enigma – to solve a riddle/enigma
  • descifrar la letra – to read/make out handwriting

🔄 Conjugations

subjunctive

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesdescifraran
yodescifrara
túdescifraras
vosotrosdescifrarais
nosotrosdescifráramos
él/ella/usteddescifrara

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesdescifren
yodescifre
túdescifres
vosotrosdescifréis
nosotrosdescifremos
él/ella/usteddescifre

indicative

preterite

ellos/ellas/ustedesdescifraron
yodescifré
túdescifraste
vosotrosdescifrasteis
nosotrosdesciframos
él/ella/usteddescifró

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesdescifraban
yodescifraba
túdescifrabas
vosotrosdescifrabais
nosotrosdescifrábamos
él/ella/usteddescifraba

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesdescifran
yodescifro
túdescifras
vosotrosdescifráis
nosotrosdesciframos
él/ella/usteddescifra
View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "descifrar" in Spanish:

to decipher→to decode→to unravel→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: descifrar

Question 1 of 3

If you can't read your friend's messy handwriting, you are trying to...

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
cifra(digit/number) — Noun
cifrado(encrypted) — Adjective
desciframiento(deciphering) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the prefix 'de-' (meaning to undo) and the word 'cifra' (digit/number). It originally referred to turning numbers back into readable text.

First recorded: 16th century

Cognates (Related words)

French: déchiffrerEnglish: decipher

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'descifrar' only for secret agents?

Not at all! While it can mean decoding secret messages, we use it every day for things like reading messy handwriting or trying to understand a complicated person.

Can I use 'descifrar' for computer passwords?

Yes, if you are trying to 'crack' or figure out a password, descifrar is the perfect word.

How is it different from 'entender'?

Entender is general 'understanding.' Descifrar implies there was a challenge, a secret, or a mess that you had to work through first.