Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| matar | /maˈtaɾ/ | |
| dar matarile | /daɾ mataɾile/ (from spelling rules) | colloquial |
| afrijolar | /afɾixolaɾ/ (from spelling rules) | |
| ñampiar | /ɲampjaɾ/ (from spelling rules) | |
| piliar | /piljaɾ/ (from spelling rules) | Nicaragua |
The verb matar is the most common and general term for to kill. Other variations exist depending on the specific nuance required: eliminar is used when the focus is on eliminating a threat or removing someone from a situation, while hacer desaparecer acts as a euphemism for killing or causing someone's disappearance in certain Latin American countries. For more poetic or formal emphasis on the act of causing death, use the phrase dar muerte a. In Latin America, the informal term liquidar can mean to bump off or to get rid of someone.
Which one should you use?
While matar is the standard term, dar matarile is a colloquial way to express the act. In Mexico, chingar is a colloquial and vulgar way to express killing.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For formal or poetic contexts, use dar muerte a. For general purposes, matar is the standard. Use liquidar in informal Latin American contexts to mean bumping someone off, and note that dar matarile and chingar are colloquial, with the latter being vulgar.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Nicaragua, the verb piliar is used specifically to mean to kill. In Mexico, chingar is used colloquially. In several Latin American countries, hacer desaparecer is used as a euphemism.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
matar is a regular -ar verb. The third-person singular preterite form (he/she killed) is mató. Related to this is the noun matanza, which refers to the result of killing.
How do you pronounce it?
/maˈtaɾ/
Did you know?
- The Spanish verb matar shares a possible root with the Latin 'mactare', which means 'to honor' or 'to consecrate', creating a strange semantic link between killing and sacred rituals.
- In Spanish, the verb matar is used not only for taking a life, but also to describe 'killing' time or 'killing' a craving.
Examples in context
- Te voy a matar.I'll kill you.This sentence shows how to use matar to express a future intent to kill.Tatoeba #1321042 by hayastan, translation #436719 by lukaszpp
- ¡Te voy a matar!I am going to kill you!This sentence uses matar to express an immediate intent to kill.Tatoeba #1408546 by marcelostockle, translation #1135036 by shekitten
- Tom matará a Mary.Tom will kill Mary.This sentence demonstrates the use of matar in the future tense.Tatoeba #5750899 by arh, translation #2215695 by CK
- El ejército mató al enemigoThe army killed the enemy
- El asesino dio muerte a su víctimaThe killer caused the death of his victim
- Me voy a matar de risaI'll die laughing
- Estoy tan enfadado que lo mataríaI'm so angry I could kill him
- Quiero liquidar a ese tipoI want to bump off that guy
- 281 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alejandro and María are discussing a plot in a thriller novel.
- AlejandroEl villano quiere matar al detective.The villain wants to kill the detective.
- MaríaPero el detective es muy inteligente.But the detective is very intelligent.
- Alejandro¿Crees que logre matar a alguien?Do you think he will manage to kill someone?
- MaríaNo, creo que el villano perderá.No, I think the villain will lose.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “kill” translations and entries matar, 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 dar, matar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
