masacrar
“masacrar” means “to massacre” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
to massacre
Also: to slaughter
📝 In Action
Las tropas masacraron a los rebeldes sin piedad.
B2The troops massacred the rebels without mercy.
Es horrible cómo masacraron a esos elefantes por su marfil.
B2It's horrible how they slaughtered those elephants for their ivory.
El dictador ordenó masacrar a la población civil.
C1The dictator ordered the massacre of the civilian population.
to crush
Also: to trounce
📝 In Action
Nuestro equipo de fútbol los masacró 5-0.
B1Our soccer team crushed them 5-0.
En el videojuego, mi hermano siempre me masacra.
A2In the video game, my brother always annihilates me.
La prensa masacró al político después de su discurso.
B2The press tore the politician apart after his speech.
to butcher
Also: to mangle
📝 In Action
Cantó muy mal; masacró mi canción favorita.
B2He sang very badly; he butchered my favorite song.
No hables francés si vas a masacrar el idioma.
C1Don't speak French if you're going to mangle the language.
El director masacró la novela original con su película.
C1The director butchered the original novel with his movie.
Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Indicative
Preterite
Imperfect
Present
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "masacrar" in Spanish:
to butcher→to crush→to mangle→to massacre→to slaughter→to trounce→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: masacrar
Question 1 of 3
If your team loses 8-0, you might say:
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the French word 'massacrer,' which originally referred to the work done in a slaughterhouse.
First recorded: 18th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'masacrar' too violent to use in a casual conversation?
Not if you are talking about sports or games! In those contexts, it just means 'to win by a lot.' However, be careful using it in serious political or social discussions.
What is the difference between 'asesinar' and 'masacrar'?
'Asesinar' means to murder a specific person. 'Masacrar' implies a large number of victims or a high level of brutality/slaughter.
Can I use 'masacrar' for animals?
Yes, it is often used when a large number of animals are killed, such as in illegal hunting or in a slaughterhouse context.