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B1 verb 11 Min. Lesezeit

defecar

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Erklärung defecar in your Level:

At the A1 level, you are just starting to learn the basics of Spanish. You likely won't need the word 'defecar' in your daily conversations. Instead, you will learn simple phrases like 'ir al baño' (to go to the bathroom). However, it is good to recognize 'defecar' as a formal word for a basic human need. Imagine you are at a doctor's office or reading a very simple health brochure. You might see this word. It's important to know it's not a 'bad' or 'rude' word, but a very 'serious' one. Think of it like the difference between 'poo' and 'defecate' in English. Most of the time, you will use 'baño' (bathroom) or 'caca' (if you are talking to a small child). But if you see 'defecar' in a book, just remember it means the body is getting rid of waste. It follows the regular '-ar' verb rules, so it conjugates just like 'hablar' or 'caminar'. For example, 'el gato defeca' (the cat poops). Don't worry about using it yourself yet; just focus on understanding it if you see it in a medical context.

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As an A2 learner, you are building your vocabulary for common situations, including health and daily routines. You might encounter 'defecar' when discussing pets or visiting a clinic. At this level, you should be able to conjugate it in the present tense: 'yo defeco', 'tú defecas', etc. You should also be aware of the more common and polite alternative, 'hacer de vientre'. If you have a dog, a veterinarian might ask you, '¿Ha defecado el perro hoy?' (Has the dog defecated today?). It is important to start distinguishing between formal and informal language. While you might hear 'cagar' in movies or on the street, you should avoid using it and stick to 'ir al baño' or, if in a professional setting, 'defecar'. You should also learn the word 'excremento' (excrement) as it often appears near 'defecar' in signs or instructions. Remember, 'defecar' is a neutral, biological term. It's helpful to know for reading medicine labels or understanding basic health advice in Spanish.

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At the B1 level, you are moving into intermediate Spanish, where you can handle more complex topics like health, nature, and social issues. 'Defecar' becomes more relevant here as you might read articles about environmental sanitation or watch nature documentaries. You should be comfortable using the preterite tense, remembering the spelling change: 'yo defequé'. This 'qu' is necessary to keep the 'k' sound. You should also understand the noun form, 'la defecación'. At this level, you can use 'defecar' in a sentence to describe biological processes or medical symptoms without feeling awkward, as long as the context is appropriate. You are also learning to use synonyms like 'evacuar' or 'obrar' to vary your speech. For example, in a discussion about healthy habits, you might say, 'Es importante defecar con regularidad para mantener una buena salud' (It is important to defecate regularly to maintain good health). You should also be aware of the cultural taboo around this topic and use 'defecar' as a way to remain professional and objective when the subject must be discussed.

At the B2 level, you should have a firm grasp of register and nuance. You understand that 'defecar' is the clinical standard and can use it fluently in medical or scientific discussions. You are also likely encountering it in more sophisticated texts, such as news reports on global health crises (e.g., 'la crisis de la defecación al aire libre'). You should be able to use the word in the subjunctive and conditional moods: 'Es posible que el paciente no defeque hoy' (It is possible the patient won't defecate today). You should also be familiar with the word's presence in legal and municipal language, such as laws requiring pet owners to clean up after their animals. At this level, you can distinguish between the clinical 'defecar', the polite 'hacer de vientre', and the vulgar 'cagar', choosing the right one for the situation. You might also start to notice the word in literary contexts, where an author might use it to create a sense of stark realism or to emphasize the biological nature of their characters.

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As a C1 learner, you are approaching near-native fluency and can use 'defecar' in specialized professional contexts. If you are in the medical or veterinary field, you use this word and its derivatives (like 'defecatorio') with precision. You understand the historical and etymological roots of the word, coming from the Latin 'defaecare', meaning to purify or clear of dregs. You can discuss the word's role in public health policy and its sociological implications in depth. You are also sensitive to the subtle differences between 'defecar', 'evacuar', 'obrar', and 'exonerar' (a very formal and somewhat rare term). Your ability to navigate the social taboos surrounding the word is refined; you know exactly when to use a clinical term to maintain professional distance and when to use a euphemism to show empathy. You can read complex scientific papers where 'defecar' is used to describe everything from the behavior of microorganisms to the ecological impact of large mammals, and you can summarize these findings using the word correctly and naturally.

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At the C2 level, you have complete mastery over the word 'defecar' and its place in the Spanish language. You can use it in academic, medical, and literary contexts with the same ease as a native speaker. You might explore the word's use in philosophical or naturalistic literature, where the biological functions of the body are discussed with raw honesty. You are aware of regional variations in how bowel movements are discussed across the Spanish-speaking world and can adapt your language accordingly. You understand the nuances of medical jargon, such as 'defecación disinérgica' or other specialized terms. You can also appreciate the word's use in historical texts or older medical manuals. At this level, you don't just know what the word means; you understand its social history, its biological importance, and its linguistic boundaries. You can use 'defecar' in a high-level debate about sanitation infrastructure or in a detailed medical case study, ensuring that your tone is always perfectly calibrated to the audience and the subject matter.

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Defecar is the formal, medical term for bowel movements in Spanish.
It is a regular -ar verb, but remember the 'qu' in the preterite 'yo' form: defequé.
Use it in clinical, scientific, or very formal settings to avoid being vulgar or childish.
Common synonyms include 'evacuar' and 'hacer de vientre', while 'cagar' is the vulgar equivalent.

The Spanish verb defecar is a formal, clinical, and precise term used to describe the biological process of discharging waste from the bowels. While English speakers might use a variety of terms ranging from the clinical 'to defecate' to the common 'to poop' or the vulgar 'to shit,' the Spanish word defecar sits firmly in the scientific and medical register. It is the word you will encounter in biology textbooks, medical reports, and professional consultations with healthcare providers. Understanding the context of this word is crucial because using a more colloquial term like cagar in a professional setting would be considered highly offensive or uneducated, whereas using defecar in a casual conversation with friends might sound overly stiff or unnecessarily clinical.

Register: Formal/Medical. This word is appropriate for scientific discussions, medical histories, and formal writing regarding health and biology.

El paciente tiene dificultades para defecar debido a la falta de fibra en su dieta.

In terms of frequency, you won't hear this word in daily street Spanish as often as its more common counterparts. However, for anyone studying Spanish for professional purposes—especially in the medical, veterinary, or biological fields—it is an essential part of the lexicon. It functions as a regular -ar verb, making its conjugation predictable and easy for learners to master. The word carries a neutral, objective tone, stripping away the emotional or social baggage associated with more vulgar terms. It focuses purely on the physiological action.

Synonym Comparison: While 'defecar' is clinical, 'obrar' is an older, very polite euphemism often used by older generations, and 'evacuar' is another common medical alternative.

Es importante que el cachorro aprenda a defecar fuera de la casa.

Furthermore, the word is often used in the context of public health and sanitation. For example, campaigns against 'defecación al aire libre' (open defecation) use this term to maintain a serious and professional tone while addressing sensitive social issues. It is also common in veterinary medicine when discussing the health of pets or livestock. If you are reading a study on the migration of birds and how they spread seeds, the word defecar will likely be used to describe how the seeds are deposited in new locations after digestion.

Las aves suelen defecar mientras vuelan, lo que ayuda a la dispersión de semillas.

Grammar Note: Defecar is an intransitive verb, meaning it does not usually take a direct object. You defecate; you don't 'defecate something' in common usage, though medical texts might specify the type of stool.

El estudio observó cuántas veces al día suelen defecar los primates en su hábitat natural.

Después de la cirugía, es vital que el paciente logre defecar de forma natural.

Using defecar correctly involves understanding its role as a regular -ar verb and its specific formal context. Because it is a clinical term, it is often paired with adverbs that describe frequency, difficulty, or biological state. For instance, you might see it used with frecuentemente (frequently), con dificultad (with difficulty), or normalmente (normally). In medical Spanish, the subject is often the patient or an animal, and the verb describes a necessary biological function that needs to be monitored.

Sentence Structure: [Subject] + [Conjugated form of defecar] + [Adverbial phrase]. Example: 'El gato defecó en la arena.'

Es necesario que el animal pueda defecar antes de recibir el alta médica.

In the present tense, it follows the standard pattern: yo defeco, tú defecas, él/ella defeca, nosotros defecamos, vosotros defecáis, ellos/ellas defecan. In the preterite (past) tense, which is common when reporting symptoms to a doctor, it follows: yo defequé (note the spelling change 'qu' to maintain the 'k' sound), tú defecaste, él defecó, etc. This 'qu' change is a standard orthographic rule in Spanish for verbs ending in -car when the ending starts with 'e'.

Common Contexts: Medical intake forms, veterinary instructions, biological research papers, and formal health education materials.

Si el bebé no ha logrado defecar en 48 horas, consulte a su pediatra.

When discussing public policy or hygiene, defecar is often used in the gerund form (defecando) or as an infinitive serving as a noun. For example, 'El acto de defecar en lugares públicos está prohibido por ley.' Here, the word maintains its serious, legalistic tone. It is also found in the passive voice or impersonal 'se' constructions in scientific writing: 'Se observó que los sujetos defecaban con mayor regularidad tras el tratamiento.'

Muchos animales evitan defecar cerca de donde duermen para evitar depredadores.

Usage with Prepositions: 'Defecar en' (to defecate in/on) is the most common pairing, indicating the location of the action.

El paciente informó que defecó sangre, lo cual es un síntoma preocupante.

¿Con qué frecuencia suele defecar su mascota?

In the real world, the use of defecar is highly situational. You are most likely to hear it in a hospital or clinic setting. When a doctor or nurse is conducting an intake interview, they will use professional language to put the patient at ease and maintain a clinical distance from what can be a sensitive or embarrassing subject. They might ask, '¿Ha tenido problemas para defecar últimamente?' or '¿Cuándo fue la última vez que defecó?' Using this word signals that the conversation is strictly medical and professional.

Medical Settings: Doctors, nurses, and medical technicians use this term to discuss bowel movements objectively.

El médico anotó en el historial que el paciente no ha podido defecar en tres días.

Another place you will frequently encounter defecar is in educational documentaries or scientific programs, especially those focused on nature, biology, or the human body. When a narrator describes the life cycle of an insect or the digestive habits of a whale, they will use defecar to maintain an educational tone. Similarly, in news reports regarding sanitation or environmental issues, journalists use this term to discuss 'defecación al aire libre' (open defecation) as a global health challenge. This usage ensures the report remains respectful and serious.

Scientific Literature: Biology textbooks and research papers use 'defecar' to describe the excretion of waste in all living organisms.

El documental explica cómo los elefantes ayudan al ecosistema al defecar semillas por toda la sabana.

In a veterinary clinic, the word is indispensable. Veterinarians use it to ask pet owners about their animals' digestive health. '¿Su perro ha defecado hoy?' is a standard question. It is also used in formal legal documents or municipal ordinances. For instance, a city might have a law stating: 'Es obligatorio recoger los excrementos después de que su perro termine de defecar en la vía pública.' This formal phrasing is used to avoid any ambiguity or offensive language in official codes.

La ordenanza municipal prohíbe defecar en las playas para mantener la higiene.

News & Public Health: International organizations like the WHO use 'defecar' in reports about sanitation infrastructure in developing nations.

El informe resalta el peligro de defecar cerca de fuentes de agua potable.

El paciente no puede recibir el alta hasta que logre defecar sin ayuda de laxantes.

One of the most common mistakes learners make with defecar is using it in the wrong social context. Because English speakers often use 'to defecate' only in very specific medical contexts, they might not realize that defecar is equally formal in Spanish. Using it at a casual dinner party or with friends can make you sound like a textbook or a doctor, which might create a socially awkward moment. In those cases, 'ir al baño' (to go to the bathroom) or 'hacer caca' (with children or close family) is much more natural.

Contextual Mismatch: Avoid using 'defecar' in casual settings. It is strictly for medical, scientific, or formal situations.

Incorrect: Perdón, tengo que defecar. (Too formal/clinical for a party)

Another mistake involves the spelling of the preterite 'yo' form. Since it is a verb ending in -car, the 'c' changes to 'qu' before an 'e'. Many learners write defecé, but the correct spelling is defequé. This is essential for maintaining the hard 'k' sound of the root. Without this change, it would be pronounced 'de-fe-SÉ', which is incorrect. This rule applies to all -car verbs in Spanish, such as tocar (toqué) or buscar (busqué).

Grammatical Errors: Confusing 'defecar' with 'deshacer' (to undo) or 'descartar' (to discard) due to the 'de-' prefix.

Correct: El paciente defequé con normalidad esta mañana.

Learners also sometimes confuse defecar with its vulgar synonym cagar. While they both refer to the same biological act, the social consequences of mixing them up are significant. Using cagar in a medical setting would be seen as extremely rude, while using defecar in a vulgar joke would likely fall flat because it's too clinical. Additionally, avoid using defecar as a transitive verb with an object unless you are in a very specific scientific context (e.g., 'defecar parásitos'). Usually, it is used alone or with a prepositional phrase.

Mistake: El niño defecó sus pantalones. (Better: 'Se ensució los pantalones' or 'Se hizo encima')

False Friends: Do not confuse 'defecar' with 'defraudar' (to defraud) or 'defectuoso' (defective). They share a prefix but have no semantic connection.

Correct: El veterinario preguntó si el perro había tenido problemas para defecar.

Es un error pensar que defecar es una palabra que se puede usar en cualquier situación social.

Spanish has a rich variety of terms for bowel movements, each suited to a different level of formality and social setting. Understanding these alternatives is key to sounding natural. Defecar is the gold standard for medical and scientific contexts. However, if you are looking for something slightly less clinical but still very polite, you might use evacuar or obrar. Evacuar is often used in hospitals as well, especially when referring to the act of clearing the bowels before a procedure.

Evacuar: Very similar to 'defecar', often used in medical contexts to describe the clearing of the bowels. 'El paciente evacuó satisfactoriamente'.

El cirujano pidió que el paciente evacuara antes de la operación.

In everyday life, most Spanish speakers use euphemisms to avoid being too graphic. The most common is ir al baño (to go to the bathroom). Another very common and polite phrase is hacer de vientre or hacer del cuerpo. These are safe to use in almost any situation, from a doctor's visit to a conversation with an elderly relative. For children, the standard term is hacer caca, which is equivalent to 'to poop' or 'to go potty' in English.

Obrar: A somewhat archaic and very polite term. You might hear it from older doctors or in classic literature. '¿Ha obrado usted hoy?'

Mi abuela siempre preguntaba si el niño ya había obrado.

On the opposite end of the spectrum is cagar. This is a vulgar term, equivalent to 'to shit'. While it is very common among friends in some Spanish-speaking countries (especially Spain), it should be used with extreme caution. It is often used in idioms like 'cagarla' (to screw up), which has nothing to do with the biological act. As a learner, it is generally better to avoid cagar until you have a very strong grasp of the social nuances in the specific country you are in.

En un entorno profesional, nunca uses 'cagar'; usa defecar o 'evacuar'.

Hacer de vientre: A common, polite, and neutral way to refer to the action without being clinical or vulgar. 'Tengo problemas para hacer de vientre'.

El farmacéutico me recomendó un té para ayudarme a hacer de vientre.

Es vital conocer estas alternativas para no usar defecar en el momento equivocado.

How Formal Is It?

Wusstest du?

In ancient times, 'defecar' was used in the context of clearing liquids like wine or oil of their sediment. It only later became specifically associated with biological waste.

Aussprachehilfe

UK /defeˈkaɾ/

US /defeˈkaɾ/

The stress is on the last syllable: de-fe-CAR.

Reimt sich auf

hablar caminar llegar estar lugar pensar mirar tomar

Häufige Fehler

Pronouncing the 'c' as an 's' (it should be a 'k' sound).
Stress on the wrong syllable (saying de-FE-car instead of de-fe-CAR).
Using an American 'r' at the end.
Confusing the 'e' sounds with English 'ee'.
Not tapping the 'r' correctly.

Schwierigkeitsgrad

Lesen 2/5

Easy to recognize if you know the English cognate 'defecate'.

Schreiben 3/5

Requires remembering the 'qu' spelling change in the preterite.

Sprechen 3/5

Easy to pronounce, but requires social awareness of register.

Hören 2/5

Clearly pronounced in formal contexts.

Was du als Nächstes lernen solltest

Voraussetzungen

baño cuerpo médico animal comer

Als Nächstes lernen

estreñimiento diarrea digestión evacuar intestino

Fortgeschritten

peristaltismo heces recto esfínter egestión

Wichtige Grammatik

Verbs ending in -car change 'c' to 'qu' in the preterite 'yo' form.

Yo defequé (I defecated).

The present subjunctive is used after expressions of necessity.

Es necesario que el paciente defeque.

The infinitive can function as a noun.

Defecar es una función vital.

Intransitive verbs do not take direct objects.

El animal defeca (No object needed).

Prepositional usage with 'en' for location.

Defecar en el campo.

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Beispiele nach Niveau

El perro necesita defecar.

The dog needs to defecate.

Simple present tense with an infinitive.

El gato defeca en su caja.

The cat defecates in its box.

Third person singular present tense.

¿Tu perro defeca mucho?

Does your dog defecate a lot?

Question form in the present tense.

Yo no defeco aquí.

I don't defecate here.

Negative sentence in the present tense.

Los pájaros defecan.

Birds defecate.

Third person plural present tense.

Es normal defecar.

It is normal to defecate.

Infinitive used as a subject complement.

El elefante defeca en el campo.

The elephant defecates in the field.

Present tense with a prepositional phrase.

Los animales defecan todos los días.

Animals defecate every day.

General statement in the present tense.

El médico me preguntó si pude defecar.

The doctor asked me if I could defecate.

Preterite tense used after 'si'.

El cachorro no ha defecado todavía.

The puppy hasn't defecated yet.

Present perfect tense.

Es importante defecar con regularidad.

It is important to defecate regularly.

Infinitive after 'es importante'.

Ayer mi gato defecó fuera de la caja.

Yesterday my cat defecated outside the box.

Preterite tense, third person singular.

Tengo problemas para defecar hoy.

I have problems defecating today.

'Para' followed by an infinitive.

¿A qué hora defecó el paciente?

At what time did the patient defecate?

Question in the preterite tense.

Debes defecar antes de la prueba.

You must defecate before the test.

'Deber' followed by an infinitive.

Muchos insectos defecan mientras comen.

Many insects defecate while they eat.

Third person plural present tense.

Yo defequé esta mañana sin problemas.

I defecated this morning without problems.

Spelling change 'qu' in the first person preterite.

Si no defecas pronto, te sentirás mal.

If you don't defecate soon, you will feel bad.

First conditional (if + present, future).

El paciente ha estado defecando sangre.

The patient has been defecating blood.

Present perfect progressive.

Es raro que el perro no haya defecado.

It is rare that the dog hasn't defecated.

Present perfect subjunctive after 'es raro que'.

Las aves ayudan al bosque al defecar semillas.

Birds help the forest by defecating seeds.

Gerund-like use of 'al' + infinitive.

El tratamiento le ayudó a defecar mejor.

The treatment helped him/her defecate better.

Preterite followed by an infinitive.

¿Ha podido defecar desde la cirugía?

Have you been able to defecate since the surgery?

Present perfect with 'poder'.

Es necesario que el bebé defeque hoy.

It is necessary that the baby defecates today.

Present subjunctive after 'es necesario que'.

El estudio analiza cómo defecaban los dinosaurios.

The study analyzes how dinosaurs used to defecate.

Imperfect tense for habitual past action.

Se prohíbe defecar en la vía pública.

Defecating on public roads is prohibited.

Impersonal 'se' construction.

Dudo que el animal pueda defecar por sí solo.

I doubt the animal can defecate on its own.

Present subjunctive after 'dudo que'.

Si el paciente defecara, estaríamos más tranquilos.

If the patient defecated, we would be more relieved.

Imperfect subjunctive in a hypothetical 'if' clause.

La falta de agua impide defecar correctamente.

Lack of water prevents defecating correctly.

Infinitive acting as the object of 'impide'.

El informe describe el acto de defecar como vital.

The report describes the act of defecating as vital.

Infinitive used as a noun.

Los primates suelen defecar desde las ramas.

Primates usually defecate from the branches.

'Suelen' + infinitive for habitual actions.

Había defecado antes de que llegara el doctor.

He had defecated before the doctor arrived.

Past perfect (pluperfect) tense.

La patología le impedía defecar sin dolor agudo.

The pathology prevented him from defecating without acute pain.

Imperfect tense describing a continuous state.

Es imperativo que el sujeto defeque en el frasco.

It is imperative that the subject defecates in the jar.

Present subjunctive with a formal command.

Tras la ingestión, el organismo procede a defecar.

After ingestion, the organism proceeds to defecate.

Formal sequence using 'procede a'.

El paciente refería no haber defecado en una semana.

The patient reported not having defecated in a week.

Perfect infinitive in indirect speech.

Observamos que los especímenes defecaban al amanecer.

We observed that the specimens defecated at dawn.

Imperfect tense for repeated observations.

La incapacidad de defecar sugiere una obstrucción.

The inability to defecate suggests an obstruction.

Infinitive as a noun phrase.

Incluso tras defecar, sentía una presión constante.

Even after defecating, he felt constant pressure.

'Tras' + infinitive.

El fármaco provocó que el paciente defecara súbitamente.

The drug caused the patient to defecate suddenly.

Imperfect subjunctive after a verb of causation.

La obra explora el acto de defecar como algo sagrado.

The work explores the act of defecating as something sacred.

Metaphorical use in literary analysis.

Ni aun habiendo defecado lograba sentir alivio.

Not even having defecated did he manage to feel relief.

Compound gerund in a concessive clause.

El texto naturalista detalla cómo el mendigo defecaba.

The naturalist text details how the beggar defecated.

Stylistic use of the imperfect in literature.

Cualquier criatura que ingiera, ha de defecar tarde o temprano.

Any creature that ingests must defecate sooner or later.

Formal 'haber de' + infinitive construction.

La legislación sobre defecación urbana es muy estricta.

Legislation on urban defecation is very strict.

Noun form in a legal context.

Se analizó la frecuencia con la que defecaban los sujetos.

The frequency with which the subjects defecated was analyzed.

Relative clause with 'con la que'.

El paciente no defecó, a pesar de los supositorios.

The patient did not defecate, despite the suppositories.

Preterite tense with a concessive phrase.

Instamos a la población a no defecar cerca del río.

We urge the population not to defecate near the river.

Formal verb 'instar' followed by 'a' + infinitive.

Häufige Kollokationen

defecar sangre

dificultad para defecar

ganas de defecar

frecuencia de defecar

defecar al aire libre

dolor al defecar

ayudar a defecar

necesidad de defecar

defecar regularmente

defecar blando

Häufige Phrasen

Problemas para defecar

— Having trouble with bowel movements. Used commonly in medical consultations.

¿Tiene usted problemas para defecar?

Hábito de defecar

— Regular schedule of bowel movements. Used in health assessments.

Es importante mantener un hábito de defecar constante.

Acto de defecar

— The formal name for the action itself. Used in legal or scientific texts.

El acto de defecar es natural en todos los seres vivos.

Defecar sin esfuerzo

— To have a bowel movement without straining. A sign of good digestive health.

El objetivo del tratamiento es que pueda defecar sin esfuerzo.

Defecar en lugares públicos

— To defecate in public areas. Usually used in the context of laws and fines.

Está prohibido defecar en lugares públicos.

Urgencia para defecar

— A sudden, strong need to go. A medical symptom.

La colitis provoca una urgencia constante para defecar.

Defecar con normalidad

— To have normal bowel movements. Used to describe recovery.

El paciente ya puede defecar con normalidad.

Defecar por la mañana

— To have a bowel movement in the morning. A common routine.

Mucha gente prefiere defecar por la mañana.

Defecar tras las comidas

— To defecate after eating. Common in infants.

Los bebés suelen defecar tras las comidas.

Imposibilidad de defecar

— Total inability to have a bowel movement. A serious medical condition.

La imposibilidad de defecar requiere atención médica inmediata.

Wird oft verwechselt mit

defecar vs deshacer

Learners sometimes confuse the 'de-' prefix. Deshacer means to undo.

defecar vs descartar

Means to discard or rule out. No biological connection.

defecar vs dedicar

Means to dedicate. Similar spelling but different meaning.

Redewendungen & Ausdrücke

"Cagarla"

— To screw up or make a big mistake. This uses the vulgar version of 'defecar'.

La cagué en el examen de matemáticas.

Informal/Vulgar

"Cagarse de miedo"

— To be extremely scared. Literally 'to shit oneself with fear'.

Me cagué de miedo con esa película de terror.

Informal/Vulgar

"Cagarse en todo"

— An expression of extreme frustration or anger.

¡Me cago en todo! Se me rompió el coche.

Informal/Vulgar

"Hacerse de vientre"

— A polite way to say one needs to defecate.

El anciano pidió ayuda para hacerse de vientre.

Polite

"Irse por la pata abajo"

— To have severe diarrhea. A very graphic but common informal expression.

Comí algo malo y me fui por la pata abajo.

Informal

"Cagar fuego"

— To be in serious trouble or to experience something very painful.

Si mi jefe se entera, voy a cagar fuego.

Slang

"No comer por no cagar"

— To be extremely stingy or miserly.

Ese hombre es tan tacaño que no come por no cagar.

Informal

"Cagarse en las patas"

— To be cowardly or to back down out of fear.

A la hora de la verdad, se cagó en las patas.

Informal/Vulgar

"Mandarlo a cagar"

— To tell someone to get lost or to 'piss off'.

Me cansé de sus mentiras y lo mandé a cagar.

Vulgar

"Estar cagado"

— To be very unlucky or to be in a very bad situation.

Con esta lluvia, estamos cagados para el partido.

Informal/Vulgar

Leicht verwechselbar

defecar vs cagar

Both mean the same biological act.

Cagar is vulgar and potentially offensive; defecar is clinical and professional. Never use cagar in a formal setting.

Médico: ¿Ha podido defecar? vs Amigo: El perro se cagó.

defecar vs evacuar

Both used in hospitals.

Evacuar is often used for the act of emptying the bowels specifically, whereas defecar is the general biological term.

El paciente evacuó tras el enema.

defecar vs obrar

Both refer to bowel movements.

Obrar is an old-fashioned, very polite euphemism; defecar is modern and medical.

El abuelo ya obró.

defecar vs excrementar

Sounds like it could be a verb.

Excrementar is not a standard verb in Spanish; use defecar instead.

Correct: El animal defecó. Incorrect: El animal excrementó.

defecar vs orinar

Both are excretory functions.

Orinar is to urinate (liquid waste); defecar is for solid waste.

El paciente orina bien pero no puede defecar.

Satzmuster

[Animal] + [defeca]

El perro defeca.

[No ha podido] + defecar

No ha podido defecar.

Es importante + defecar + [adverb]

Es importante defecar regularmente.

Yo + [defequé] + [time]

Yo defequé ayer.

Se prohíbe + defecar + [place]

Se prohíbe defecar en la calle.

[Sustantivo] + le impedía + defecar

La enfermedad le impedía defecar.

Es imperativo que + [sujeto] + [defeque]

Es imperativo que el paciente defeque.

Ni aun + [habiendo defecado] + ...

Ni aun habiendo defecado sintió alivio.

Wortfamilie

Substantive

defecación (the act of defecating)

excremento (excrement)

heces (feces)

deposición (bowel movement)

Verben

defecar

Adjektive

defecatorio (relating to defecation)

Verwandt

intestino

digestión

ano

recto

estreñimiento

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frequency

High in medical/biological contexts; Low in general social contexts.

Häufige Fehler

Yo defecé → Yo defequé
In Spanish, verbs ending in -car change 'c' to 'qu' before 'e' to keep the hard 'k' sound. This happens in the preterite 'yo' form.
Using 'defecar' at a party → Tengo que ir al baño
Defecar is too clinical for casual social settings. It makes the speaker sound like they are in a hospital.
El niño defecó sus pantalones → El niño se hizo encima
Defecar is usually intransitive. To say someone 'pooped their pants', use 'hacerse encima' or 'ensuciarse'.
Confusing defecar with cagar in a clinic → Defecar
Cagar is vulgar. Using it with a doctor is considered rude or uneducated. Always use the formal term in professional settings.
Pronouncing it as de-FE-car → de-fe-CAR
Infinitives in Spanish always have the stress on the last syllable.

Tipps

Preterite Spelling

Always remember the 'qu' in 'yo defequé'. If you write 'defecé', it's a spelling error and changes the pronunciation.

Hospital Talk

Use 'defecar' when filling out medical forms or talking to a nurse. It shows you know the appropriate level of formality.

Vet Visits

If your pet is sick, 'defecar' is the best word to use with the veterinarian to describe their symptoms accurately.

Avoid at Dinner

Even though it's a formal word, 'defecar' is still about a bodily function. Avoid it during meals unless it's a medical emergency.

Biology Books

When reading about animals or the human body, expect to see 'defecar'. It is the standard term in all educational materials.

Stress the End

The word ends in 'ar', so the stress is on the last syllable. de-fe-CAR. This makes you sound much more like a native speaker.

Polite Alternative

If 'defecar' feels too clinical, try 'hacer de vientre'. It's very common, polite, and safe for most situations.

City Laws

Look for 'defecar' on signs in parks. It's often used in rules about picking up after your dog.

Subjunctive Use

Use the subjunctive after 'es necesario que'. Example: 'Es necesario que el perro defeque antes de entrar'.

Cognate Help

The English word 'defecate' is almost identical. Use this connection to remember the meaning instantly.

Einprägen

Eselsbrücke

Think of 'DEFECAR' as 'DE-FECES-AR'. It's the verb form of 'feces'. 'De' (away) + 'Feces' = getting feces away from the body.

Visuelle Assoziation

Imagine a doctor in a white coat holding a clipboard and pointing to a diagram of the digestive system. This keeps the word in its 'clinical' box.

Word Web

médico salud intestino baño heces limpiar biología animales

Herausforderung

Try to write three sentences about a pet's health using 'defecar' instead of 'hacer caca'. This will help you get used to the formal register.

Wortherkunft

From the Latin verb 'defaecare', which is a combination of 'de-' (away/from) and 'faex' (dregs, sediment, or waste).

Ursprüngliche Bedeutung: Originally, it meant to purify, to strain, or to clear of dregs (like in winemaking).

Romance (Latin-derived).

Kultureller Kontext

Always use 'defecar' or 'hacer de vientre' in medical settings. Never use 'cagar' unless you are 100% sure of the informal context.

English speakers often struggle with the register of 'defecar' because our clinical term 'defecate' is almost never used outside of a textbook. In Spanish, 'defecar' is slightly more common in medical intake forms.

Scientific documentaries on RTVE (Spanish public television). Medical textbooks used in universities like UNAM or Universidad de Salamanca. Public health campaigns by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).

Im Alltag üben

Kontexte aus dem Alltag

At the Doctor

¿Ha podido defecar?
Tengo dolor al defecar.
No he defecado en tres días.
¿Es normal defecar así?

Veterinary Clinic

Mi perro no defeca.
Defecó algo extraño.
¿Cuántas veces debe defecar?
Defeca muy blando.

Biology Class

El organismo necesita defecar.
Proceso de defecar.
Frecuencia para defecar.
Defecar semillas.

Public Health

Defecar al aire libre.
Riesgos de defecar cerca del agua.
Higiene al defecar.
Lugares para defecar.

Pharmacy

Algo para ayudar a defecar.
Me cuesta defecar.
Pastillas para defecar.
Té para defecar.

Gesprächseinstiege

"¿Sabías que algunos animales solo pueden defecar una vez a la semana?"

"El médico me preguntó con qué frecuencia suelo defecar."

"Es un problema grave que mucha gente tenga que defecar al aire libre."

"¿Crees que es importante hablar con los niños sobre cómo defecar correctamente?"

"Mi gato tiene un horario muy estricto para defecar."

Tagebuch-Impulse

Escribe sobre una visita al médico donde tuviste que usar palabras formales como 'defecar'.

Describe la importancia de la higiene y por qué no se debe defecar en lugares públicos.

Investiga y escribe sobre cómo los animales ayudan al medio ambiente al defecar.

¿Cómo cambia el lenguaje cuando hablamos de funciones corporales en situaciones formales vs informales?

Escribe un diálogo entre un veterinario y el dueño de un perro que no puede defecar.

Häufig gestellte Fragen

10 Fragen

No, it is not rude. It is a clinical and scientific term. However, using it in a casual social setting might be considered 'too much information' or overly formal, making people feel slightly uncomfortable. It's like saying 'defecate' instead of 'poop' in English.

You can, but you will sound like a biology professor. It's better to use 'ir al baño' or 'hacer de vientre' if you want to be polite but natural. If you are joking or being very informal, some cultures use 'cagar', but be careful with that one.

For babies and children, the most common term is 'hacer caca'. For example, 'El bebé hizo caca'. 'Defecar' would sound very strange when talking about a baby in a normal home setting.

In a medical context, they are almost interchangeable. 'Defecar' is the biological term for the act, while 'evacuar' (to evacuate) often refers to the emptying of the bowels. Doctors use both frequently.

Yes, in the 'yo' form of the preterite tense, you must change the 'c' to 'qu'. This is a standard rule for all Spanish verbs ending in -car (like tocar -> toqué) to keep the hard 'k' sound.

Yes, 'defecar' is very commonly used for animals in veterinary medicine and biology. 'El perro defecó' is a perfectly normal way for a vet to describe a dog's action.

Yes, the noun is 'la defecación'. It refers to the act or process of defecating. For example, 'La defecación al aire libre es un problema de salud'.

Rarely. While the vulgar 'cagar' is used in many idioms (like 'cagarla'), the formal 'defecar' is almost always used in its literal, biological sense.

Yes, 'defecar' is a standard medical term recognized in all Spanish-speaking countries. While colloquial terms vary, this formal term remains constant.

You can say 'Tengo dificultades para defecar' or 'Estoy estreñido/a'. Both are professional and will be understood perfectly.

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