Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| afeitar | /afeiˈtaɾ/ | |
| rapar | /raˈpaɾ/ | |
| rasurar | /rasuˈɾaɾ/ | |
| resurar | /resuɾaɾ/ (from spelling rules) | Central America |
The verb is used to describe the act of removing hair from the body. When referring to the result or the act itself, such as a close shave, you can use the noun afeitado. Common terms used during shaving include barba for beard and bigote for mustache.
Which one should you use?
While afeitar refers to standard shaving, rapar is used when cutting hair extremely short or shaving a head completely bald. Additionally, rasurar and resurar are alternatives for shaving, though they are used in different contexts and regions.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, people commonly use afeitar when referring to shaving. In Mexico, the verb rasurar is often used instead of afeitar. The form resurar is used in Central America.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When you are talking about shaving your own hair, such as a beard or mustache, you must use the reflexive form afeitarse. Examples of conjugation include Tú te afeitas (you shave yourself), Él/Ella se afeita (he/she shaves themselves), Nosotros/Nosotras nos afeitamos (we shave ourselves) and Ellos/Ellas se afeitan (they shave themselves).
How do you pronounce it?
/afeiˈtaɾ/
Did you know?
- Afeitar is a doublet of the word ahechar, which means 'to clean wheat with a sieve'.
- In some contexts, rapar is used not just for aesthetics but as a historical punishment or sign of mourning in certain cultures.
Examples in context
- Me tengo que afeitar.I need to shave.This sentence is useful for expressing a personal need to shave using afeitar.Tatoeba #638654 by Shishir, translation #454743 by CM
- Si te afeitaras el bigote, te quitarías diez años.You'd knock off ten years if you'd shave your mustache.This sentence shows how to use afeitar in a conditional context regarding a mustache.Tatoeba #5666632 by arh, translation #9644150 by DJ_Saidez
- El rostro de Tom se siente áspero porque debe afeitarse.Tom's face feels rough because he needs to shave.This sentence illustrates the use of afeitar to describe a physical sensation related to needing to shave.Tatoeba #1133054 by marcelostockle, translation #681966 by Source_VOA
- Es necesario afeitarse antes de la reunión.It is necessary to shave before the meeting.
- Debes rasurarte antes de la entrevista de trabajo.You should shave before the job interview.
- Tu afeitado de hoy se ve bien.Your shave today looks good.
- Me gusta tu rasurado, te ves bien.I like your shave, you look good.
- Me voy a afeitar antes de la cita.I'm going to shave before the appointment.
- Es hora de rasurar esa barba.It's time to shave that beard.
- Aféitate antes de la reunión.Shave before the meeting.
- Rasúrate antes de salir de casa.Shave before leaving the house.
- 9 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
In a bathroom before a formal party.
- MaríaDaniel, ¿te vas a afeitar hoy?Daniel, are you going to shave today?
- DanielSí, María, quiero verme bien.Yes, María, I want to look good.
- MaríaNo olvides usar la crema.Don't forget to use the cream.
- DanielEstá bien, gracias por el consejo.Okay, thanks for the advice.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “shave” translations and entries afeitar, rapar, rasurar, 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 afeitar, rapar, rasurar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
