muriendo lentamente
/muɾjendo lentamente/from spelling rules
The English phrase "slowly dying" can be translated into Spanish as muriendo lentamente.
This phrase describes the process of passing away over a long period of time. Depending on the context, you might also use different expressions to describe things fading or disappearing. For example, Poco a poco se va extinguiendo conveys the idea of something gradually disappearing or fading away, while Se apaga lentamente is used to describe a slow process of fading or dying.
Which one should you use?
While muriendo lentamente is a standard way to express the concept, other forms change the tone. Estar muriéndose despacito is used for an informal tone, and Estar en las últimas is a colloquial way to suggest someone is in a critical state or at the very end of their life.
How do you pronounce it?
/muɾjendo lentamente/
Did you know?
- While muriendo lentamente is literal, Spanish speakers often use the phrase estoy muriendo as a hyperbolic way to say they are extremely hungry, tired or bored.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, instead of focusing on the person 'dying', people often use the phrase se nos va, which translates to 'he/she is leaving us'.
- The suffix -mente used in lentamente comes from the Latin word mēns, meaning 'mind'. This suggests that the original meaning was that an action was performed 'with a certain state of mind'.
Examples in context
- Mi abuela está muriendo lentamente y estoy muy preocupado.My grandmother is slowly dying, and I am very concerned.
- La esperanza se va extinguiendo poco a poco en esta situación difícil.Hope is slowly dying in this difficult situation.
- La llama de la vela se apaga lentamente.The flame of the candle is slowly dying.
- Llevo unos días achacosa y me siento como si estuviera muriendo lentamente.I've been feeling ailing for a few days, and I feel like I'm slowly dying.
- La antigua civilización está muriendo lentamente.The ancient civilization is slowly dying.
- Siento que mi pasión por el arte está muriendo lentamente.I feel like my passion for art is slowly dying.
- El bosque está muriendo lentamente debido a la sequía.The forest is slowly dying due to the drought.
Example conversation
Lucía and Mateo are talking about a sick pet.
- LucíaEl gato ya no come y está muriendo lentamente.The cat doesn't eat anymore and is slowly dying.
- MateoEs muy triste verlo así, Lucía.It's very sad to see him like this, Lucía.
- LucíaNo quiero que sufra más.I don't want him to suffer anymore.
- MateoTienes razón, Mateo está de acuerdo contigo.You're right, Mateo agrees with you.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries lentamente, CC BY-SA 4.0.
