te quiero matar
/te kjeɾo mataɾ/from spelling rules
In Spanish, "I wanna kill you" is translated as te quiero matar.
While literal, this phrase is frequently used colloquially in many Spanish-speaking cultures to express extreme frustration or annoyance with someone, similar to 'I'm going to kill you' in English.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of te (you), quiero (I want) and matar (to kill).
How does it change in a sentence?
The object pronoun te is placed before the conjugated verb quiero in this construction. To change the object from 'you' to 'him', replace te with lo to say lo quiero matar.
How do you pronounce it?
/te kjeɾo mataɾ/
Did you know?
- The English word 'checkmate' shares a distant linguistic ancestor with the Spanish verb matar through the Persian word 'mât', which means 'dead'.
- While te quiero matar is literal, the verb matar is used in the expression matar el hambre, which means 'to satisfy one's hunger' or 'to kill the hunger'.
- Spanish speakers sometimes use matar to describe an intense physical sensation, such as when someone says me matan los pies to mean their feet are exhausted.
Examples in context
- Te quiero matar por lo que hiciste.I want to kill you for what you did.
- ¡Te quiero matar!I want to kill you!
Example conversation
María and Alejandro are arguing intensely after a betrayal.
- María¡Te quiero matar por traicionarme!I want to kill you for betraying me!
- AlejandroNo me hables así, María.Don't talk to me like that, María.
- MaríaEs que de verdad te quiero matar.It's just that I really want to kill you.
- AlejandroEstás fuera de control.You are out of control.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries matar, te, CC BY-SA 4.0.
