diseccionar
/diseɡθjoˈnaɾ/
To dissect in Spanish is diseccionar. Wiktionary also lists disecar.
Meaning: to analyze an idea in detail by separating it into its parts (verb)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| diseccionar | /diseɡθjoˈnaɾ/ /diseɡsjoˈnaɾ/ |
| disecar | /diseˈkaɾ/ |
The verb diseccionar is used both for the literal physical dissection of a biological specimen and for the figurative dissection of an idea or text. When you want to emphasize the act of carefully examining details, you can also use the phrase examinar detenidamente. If your goal is to place significance on a thorough analysis, the phrase analizar en detalle is also appropriate.
Which one should you use?
While diseccionar means to analyze or cut something apart to study it, disecar refers to the process of taxidermy or preserving a specimen.
How do you pronounce it?
/diseɡθjoˈnaɾ/
Did you know?
- While diseccionar is used for both physical and abstract subjects, the more casual way to say you are 'dissecting' an idea is to use desmenuzar. This verb literally means 'to crumble into small pieces', like breaking apart a cookie or a piece of cheese.
- The verb disecar evolved from the Latin dissecāre, which originally meant 'to cut apart'. Over centuries, the meaning shifted from the act of cutting to the act of preserving a specimen.
Examples in context
- En la clase de biología, aprendimos a diseccionar una rana.In biology class, we learned how to dissect a frog.
- Vamos a desmenuzar el argumento del artículo paso a paso.Let's dissect the article's argument step by step.
- Vamos a diseccionar el argumento paso a paso.We are going to dissect the argument step by step.
- Es necesario diseccionar cada argumento del proyecto.It is necessary to dissect every argument of the project.
- Vamos a diseccionar la teoría en clase.We are going to dissect the theory in class.
- El filósofo suele diseccionar las ideas complejas.The philosopher tends to dissect complex ideas.
Example conversation
María and Mateo are discussing a difficult philosophy text in a library.
- MaríaMateo, debemos diseccionar este texto con cuidado.Mateo, we must dissect this text carefully.
- MateoTienes razón, María, es muy difícil.You are right, María, it is very difficult.
- MaríaSi lo diseccionamos, entenderemos mejor el mensaje.If we dissect it, we will understand the message better.
- MateoDe acuerdo, empecemos con la primera parte.Agreed, let's start with the first part.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “dissect” translations and entries diseccionar, disecar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries disecar, diseccionar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
