Spanish Conversation · Level 123
60 words
Spanish word
fusilar
Pronunciation
IPA/fusiˈlaɾ/
Meaning
- verbshoot dead
Example
La policía fusiló al agresor durante la intervención.
The police shot the attacker dead during the intervention.
More examples
Los prisioneros temían ser fusilados sin juicio.
The prisoners feared being shot dead without a trial.
Core concept
A firing squad executing a prisoner.
Common phrases
fusilar a alguien
shoot someone dead
fusilar a tiros
shoot dead with gunfire
Similar words
matar: Cause the death of a person by any means.
disparar: Fire a gun or other firearm.
asesinar: Kill a person deliberately and with criminal intent.
ejecutar: Put a person to death as an official legal execution.
Definition in Spanish
Ejecutar a una persona disparándole, como en un pelotón; también, en registro coloquial, copiar íntegramente el trabajo ajeno.
Word origin
The verb derives from fusil "rifle", borrowed via Old French, originally meaning to fire a rifle and later extending to mean execution by shooting and informally to copy someone else's work.
Usage tips
- When the object is a person Spanish normally uses the personal a, as in fusilar a alguien, and in casual contexts fusilar often means to copy so copiar avoids violent connotations.
Other meanings
- executeverb
- plagiarizeverb
Opposites
- indultarpardonverb
- conmutarcommuteverb
Related words
- fusilamientoexecution by firing squadnoun
- fusiladoshot deadadjective