asesinar
/a-se-si-nar/
to murder
When someone intentionally and illegally takes another's life, we use asesinar meaning 'to murder'.
asesinar(verb)
to murder
?to kill someone intentionally and illegally
,to assassinate
?to murder a public figure
to slay
?literary or historical context
📝 In Action
La investigación busca a la persona que pudo asesinar al periodista.
B1The investigation is looking for the person who could have murdered the journalist.
El dictador fue asesinado en 1985.
B2The dictator was assassinated in 1985.
No hay motivo para asesinar a nadie.
A2There is no reason to murder anyone.
💡 Grammar Points
Regular AR Verb
This is a regular verb ending in -ar, which means it follows the standard, predictable pattern for conjugation. Once you know one regular -ar verb (like 'hablar'), you know them all!
The Personal 'a'
Because 'asesinar' acts upon a person (the victim), you must use the little word 'a' right before the person's name or title: 'Asesinaron al presidente.'
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing 'asesinar' and 'matar'
Mistake: "Using 'asesinar' when you just mean 'kill' in a non-criminal context (like killing a bug)."
Correction: 'Asesinar' means *murder* or *assassinate* (always intentional and illegal). Use 'matar' for general killing. 'Maté una mosca' (I killed a fly).
⭐ Usage Tips
Formal Use
This verb is often found in formal contexts like news reports, legal documents, and serious literature.
Asesinar can also be used figuratively to mean 'to ruin' or 'to spoil' something completely.
asesinar(verb)
to ruin
?to destroy or spoil something
,to kill
?to destroy something figuratively (e.g., a mood or a performance)
to spoil
?to make something bad or unpleasant
📝 In Action
El tráfico pesado asesinó el ambiente romántico de la cena.
C1The heavy traffic killed the romantic atmosphere of the dinner.
Con esa mala iluminación, la fotografía ha asesinado todos los detalles.
C2With that bad lighting, the photograph has ruined all the details.
⭐ Usage Tips
Use with caution
This figurative use is strong and dramatic. Use it when something is truly 'ruined' or 'destroyed' in a way that feels serious, like saying 'that movie killed my evening.'
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: asesinar
Question 1 of 2
¿Cuál es la diferencia principal entre 'matar' y 'asesinar'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'asesinar' a strong or serious word?
Yes, 'asesinar' is a very strong word. It refers specifically to murder or assassination. While it has a figurative meaning (to ruin), you should use it carefully and understand its gravity in literal contexts.
How do I use 'asesinar' in the past tense?
Since 'asesinar' is a regular -ar verb, you use the standard endings. For a single past event (Preterite), you would say 'Yo asesiné' (I murdered) or 'Él asesinó' (He murdered). For past habits (Imperfect), you'd say 'Ellos asesinaban' (They used to murder).