How to Say "to unravel" in Spanish
The Spanish word for “to unravel” is “descifrar” — B2 level. This is a very common word in everyday Spanish.
English → SpanishB2
verbB2
solving a mystery or complex situation
Examples
No puedo descifrar la letra del médico.
I can't make out the doctor's handwriting.
Intentamos descifrar por qué se comportaba de esa manera.
We tried to figure out why he was behaving that way.
Es difícil descifrar sus verdaderas intenciones.
It is hard to figure out her true intentions.
Abstract Use
While it literally means decoding, we often use it for abstract puzzles like a person's mood or a difficult situation.
Descifrar vs. Entender
Mistake: “No descifro lo que dices.”
Correction: Say 'No entiendo lo que dices.' Use 'descifrar' only if what they said was confusing like a puzzle or very messy.
Related Translations
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