# behead vs behest

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### behead
*verb · IPA /bɪˈhɛd/ · frequency rank #41,011*
To deliberately remove the head of; to cut off (someone's) head.

### behest
*noun · IPA /bɪˈhɛst/ · frequency rank #29,184*
A command, bidding; sometimes also, an authoritative request; now usually in the phrase at the behest of and at one's behest.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/vs/behead-vs-behest