Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| morir | /moˈɾiɾ/ |
| diñar | /diˈɲaɾ/ |
| diñarla | /diˈɲaɾla/ |
| espichar | /espiˈt͡ʃaɾ/ |
| palmar | /palˈmaɾ/ |
| palmarla | /palˈmaɾla/ |
| transir | /tɾanˈsiɾ/ |
| ñampiarse | /ɲampjaɾse/ (from spelling rules) |
The primary way to express the cessation of life is through the verb morir. Other forms such as diñar, diñarla, espichar, palmar, palmarla, transir and ñampiarse also exist to express this concept.
Which one should you use?
While morir is the standard verb, several slang and colloquial alternatives exist. Palmar and palmarla are colloquial, with palmarla acting as an idiom similar to the English 'to kick the bucket'. Espichar is a slang term used in certain Latin American regions. The forms diñar, diñarla, transir and ñampiarse also function as ways to say one has died.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Morir is the neutral, standard term suitable for all contexts. Palmar and palmarla are colloquial and slangy. Espichar is also considered slang. You may also encounter the informal and humorous expression estirar la pata to mean dying.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Espichar is a slang term for dying used in certain Latin American countries.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Morir is an intransitive verb, which means it does not typically take a direct object. It is also an irregular verb: in the third person singular of the present tense, the stem changes from mor- to muer- (e.g., muere), and in the preterite (past) tense, it uses the stem mur- (e.g., murió).
How do you pronounce it?
/moˈɾiɾ/
When do people say it?
In informal settings, people may use the humorous phrase estirar la pata to refer to death.
Did you know?
- In some Spanish-speaking communities, the slang term diñar is used, which is believed to originate from Caló, a language used by Spanish Romani people.
- In Spanish, the phrase estirar la pata literally translates to 'to stretch the leg'.
- Spanish has a vast array of verbs for dying, ranging from the poetic transir to the blunt palmarla, allowing speakers to signal their social class or attitude toward death.
Examples in context
- No voy a morir.I'm not going to die.This sentence shows the use of morir in a negative future context.Tatoeba #2090143 by Shishir, translation #1891042 by CK
- Vi a Tom morir.I saw Tom die.This sentence shows how to use morir to describe an observation.Tatoeba #2263140 by marcelostockle, translation #2261979 by CK
- No vas a morir.You won't die.Tatoeba #3188911 by Shishir, translation #2255319 by CK
- Mi bisabuelo murió hace un añoMy great-grandfather died a year ago
- No puedo creer que palmaron todos en la películaI can't believe that everyone died in the movie
- Mi perro murió ayer. Estoy muy triste por su pérdida.My dog died yesterday. I'm very sad for its loss.
- Hace tiempo que mi abuela pasó a mejor vida, pero siempre la recordamos con cariño.It's been a while since my grandmother passed away, but we always remember her fondly.
- No puedo creer que palmaron todos los personajes en la serie.I can't believe all the characters died in the series.
- ¡Si tomas ese examen sin estudiar, vas a estirar la pata seguro!If you take that test without studying, you'll definitely kick the bucket!
- 301 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Daniel and Elena are talking about a character in a movie.
- Daniel¿El protagonista va a morir?Is the protagonist going to die?
- ElenaSí, él muere al final.Yes, he dies at the end.
- DanielEs una historia muy triste.It is a very sad story.
- ElenaSí, me hizo llorar.Yes, it made me cry.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “die” translations and entries morir, diñar, diñarla, espichar, palmar, palmarla, transir, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries diñar, espichar, morir, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
