descifrar las palabras

to decipher the words

descifrar las palabras(deh-see-frahr lahs pah-lah-brahs)

intransitive verb phrase

1. (general)

a. to decipher the words

La testigo dijo que había oido gritos y había visto a un hombre y una mujer discutiendo, pero no había logrado descifrar las palabras.

The witness said she had heard loud voices and had seen a man and a woman arguing, but she had not been able to decipher the words

b. to make out the words

Parecía haber algo escrito en la caja, pero Marcos no pudo descifrar las palabras.

There seemed to be something written on the box, but Marcos could not make out the words.