enthaupten

/ɛntˈhaʊ̯ptn̩/

verb C1

der (masc.) die (fem.) das (neut.)

Underline = a spelling pattern that usually signals that gender.

Forms

present: enthauptet
past: enthauptete
perfect: hat enthauptet

Meaning

to behead

Built from ent- (off, away) + Haupt (head).
- Der König wurde enthauptet.
  
  The king was beheaded.
- Früher wurden Verbrecher öffentlich enthauptet. Heute ist die Todesstrafe in Deutschland verboten.
  
  In the past criminals were publicly beheaded. Today the death penalty is forbidden in Germany.

Made of

ent- off, away
Haupt head

Similar words

köpfen

enthaupten is the more formal or literary word for "to behead"; köpfen is more common in everyday or historical narrative contexts, and can also mean "to head" a ball in football.

Similar in other languages

Portuguese

decapitar

decapitar is the Portuguese word for the same thing — both mean "to behead."

Portuguese

degolar

degolar is the Portuguese word for the same thing — both mean "to behead."

Practice

1 What does enthaupten mean?

2 Fill the gap: Der König wurde ___.

3 Which fingerprint chart matches enthaupten?

verbinseparablecompound

Last updated 2026-09-25