German word

köpfen

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈkœpfən/

Meaning

  • verbbehead

Example

Der Henker hat den Verbrecher geköpft.

The executioner beheaded the criminal.

Illustration for köpfen (behead)

More examples

Die Revolutionäre drohten, den Tyrannen zu köpfen.

The revolutionaries threatened to behead the tyrant.

Core concept

Action focuses on the head, either making contact with it to guide a ball or separating it from the body.

Common phrases

  • einen Anführer köpfen

    behead a leader

  • einen Verräter köpfen

    behead a traitor

Similar words

enthaupten: To carry out an official execution by cutting off the head.
abköpfen: To kill someone by chopping off the head with a blade or axe.
abschneiden: To cut off a body part with a blade, separating it from the body.
hinrichten: To put someone to death as a legal punishment.

Definition in German

gewaltsam jemandem den Kopf abschlagen; in sportlichem Kontext den Ball mit dem Kopf spielen.

Word origin

Köpfen is a German derivation of Kopf, 'head', with -en; its modern uses apply the verb to a head or to something done with the head.

Usage tips

  • Outside sports, köpfen describes beheading in graphic terms, but sports reports use it neutrally for heading a ball.

Other meanings

  • headverb

Opposites

Related words

  • das Köpfenbeheadingnoun
  • geköpftbeheadedadjective

Word lists with this word