Perpetrar

Perpetrar is a Spanish verb that means to commit or carry out an action, usually one that is illegal or immoral. The term is commonly used in legal, news, and everyday contexts to describe the execution of crimes, offenses, or wrongdoings. It is a regular verb that belongs to the first conjugation group, ending in –ar. Its infinitive form is accompanied by the accent on the penultimate syllable: per‑pet‑rá‑r. The present indicative forms are I perpetré, tú perpetras, él perpetrara, etc., while the preterite is perpetré. The auxiliary verb ser is often used to form passive structures: el delito fue perpetrado por las autoridades.

The word derives from the Latin root *perpetrāre*, meaning “to perform” or “to carry through.” In legal documents it is frequently employed to denote an act of crime or wrongdoing, for instance: “El acusado ha perpetrado un fraude bancario.” It can also be applied to non‑criminal contexts, such as “perpetrar una mejora” (to carry out an improvement). Related nouns include perpetrador (the perpetrator). Synonyms include cometer, realizar, ejecutar, though each carries subtle differences: *cometer* usually emphasizes moral culpability, while *realizar* is more neutral.

In contemporary usage, perpetrar is often found in the media when reporting on crimes, disasters, or significant events: news headlines may read “El bombardeo fue perpetrado por la milicia local.” The verb’s stress pattern places the accent on the penultimate syllable, marking the root of the word and helping Spanish speakers distinguish it from other forms. The term retains relevance in legal, journalistic, and everyday Spanish, functioning as a key verb in the description of wrongful acts.