Spanish word

desenterrar

Pronunciation

IPA/desenteˈraɾ/

Meaning

  • verbdig up

Example

El arqueólogo va a desenterrar una tumba.

The archaeologist is going to dig up a tomb.

Illustration for desenterrar (dig up)

More examples

Tras la investigación, lograron desenterrar la verdad.

After the investigation, they managed to unearth the truth.

Core concept

Hands pulling a buried box from soil.

Common phrases

  • desenterrar la verdad

    unearth the truth

  • desenterrar secretos

    unearth secrets

  • desenterrar el pasado

    unearth the past

Similar words

sacar: Takes something out from under a cover or from inside a container.
descubrir: Discovers a previously hidden fact or truth.
excavar: Digs into the ground to make a hole or trench.
exhumar: Removes a buried body from its grave.

Definition in Spanish

Sacar del suelo o de un lugar cubierto algo que estaba enterrado; también sacar a la luz recuerdos o documentos ocultos.

Word origin

Formed by the prefix des- 'remove' plus enterrar 'to bury', and it aligns with English disinter as a close cognate meaning 'exhume'.

Usage tips

  • In neutral reporting desenterrar can mean 'uncover evidence', but in casual speech it often sounds accusatory, similar to 'dredge up'.

Other meanings

  • excavateverb
  • exhumeverb

Opposites

Related words

  • desenterradoexhumedadjective

Word lists with this word