asesinar
“asesinar” means “to murder” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to murder, to assassinate
Also: to slay
📝 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.
to ruin, to kill
Also: to spoil
📝 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.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "asesinar" in Spanish:
to assassinate→to kill→to murder→to ruin→to slay→to spoil→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: asesinar
Question 1 of 2
¿Cuál es la diferencia principal entre 'matar' y 'asesinar'?
📚 More Resources
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Late Latin verb *assassinare*, which itself is rooted in the Arabic word *hashshāshīn*. This term historically referred to a secretive group in the Middle East known for political killings, leading to its adoption in European languages as a word for treacherous or premeditated killing.
First recorded: Around the 13th century (in related forms)
Cognates (Related words)
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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).