# behead vs behold

> 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.

### behold
*verb · IPA /bɪˈhəʊld/ · frequency rank #10,165*
To look at or see (someone or something), especially appreciatively; to descry, to look upon.

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