matar
/maˈtaɾ/
The English phrase 'slay' is translated into Spanish as matar. If unsure, use matar. Wiktionary also lists asesinar.
Meaning: to kill, murder (verb)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| matar | /maˈtaɾ/ |
| asesinar | /asesiˈnaɾ/ |
Matar is the most common and versatile verb for 'to kill'. It can be used in literal senses or in figurative ways, such as in the expression matar el tiempo (to kill time).
Which one should you use?
While matar is the general word for 'to kill', asesinar is specifically used for more premeditated or formal contexts, such as 'to assassinate' or 'to murder'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The third-person singular preterite (past tense) of matar is mató. The past participle is matado, which is used to form perfect tenses.
How do you pronounce it?
/maˈtaɾ/
Did you know?
- The English word 'checkmate' likely shares a distant linguistic ancestor with matar via the Persian word 'mât'.
- The word matar can be used to describe the act of extinguishing a cigarette or a candle, effectively 'killing' the flame.
- In Spanish, if someone is extremely hungry, they might say me muero de hambre, using the verb for 'to die' rather than the verb matar for 'to kill'.
Examples in context
- El cazador quiere matar al lobo.The hunter wants to kill the wolf.
- Esa medicina puede matar las bacterias.That medicine can kill the bacteria.
Example conversation
Elena and Alejandro are watching a crime documentary on TV.
- ElenaEse hombre planeaba matar al rey.That man planned to kill the king.
- AlejandroEs una historia muy triste, Elena.It is a very sad story, Elena.
- ElenaSí, el asesino fue muy cruel.Yes, the murderer was very cruel.
- AlejandroEspero que la policía lo atrape.I hope the police catch him.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “slay” translations and entries matar, asesinar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries asesinar, matar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
