certificado de defunción
/θeɾtifikado de defunθjon/from spelling rules
The English phrase "death certificate" is certificado de defunción in Spanish.
Meaning: document (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of certificado (certificate), de (of) and defunción (death/passing).
Which one should you use?
While certificado de defunción is a standard term, acta de defunción is a common synonym frequently used in legal and administrative contexts. In much more casual conversation, one might use the colloquial term papel de defunción.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the phrase plural, you pluralize the noun certificado to certificados, while the prepositional phrase de defunción remains unchanged, resulting in certificados de defunción.
How do you pronounce it?
/θeɾtifikado de defunθjon/
Did you know?
- The term defunción comes from the Latin word dēfūnctiōnem, which originally referred to the state of having completed a duty or being discharged from service.
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, the acta de defunción is the original record from the civil registry, while the certificado de defunción is the official copy issued to the family.
- In some regions, people might refer to a death certificate using the term partida de defunción, where partida refers to an official entry or piece of a registry.
Examples in context
- John necesitaba proporcionar un certificado de defunción a la embajada.John needed to provide a death certificate to the embassy.
- María perdió el acta de defunción de su madre.Maria lost her mother's death certificate.
- Necesito una copia del certificado de defunción.I need a copy of the death certificate.
- El certificado de defunción es necesario para el trámite.The death certificate is necessary for the procedure.
- ¿Dónde puedo solicitar el certificado de defunción?Where can I request the death certificate?
Example conversation
María and Daniel are organizing legal documents.
- MaríaDaniel, ¿tienes el certificado de defunción aquí?Daniel, do you have the death certificate here?
- DanielSí, María, está en esta carpeta azul.Yes, María, it is in this blue folder.
- MaríaGracias, lo necesito para el seguro.Thank you, I need it for the insurance.
- DanielToma, aquí tienes el certificado de defunción.Here, here is the death certificate.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “death certificate” translations and entries certificado de defunción, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries certificado, de, defunción, CC BY-SA 4.0.
