matado
/mah-TAH-doh/
exhausted
Use matado when someone is completely exhausted after a long day of work.
matado(Adjective)
exhausted
?physically or mentally worn out
,worn out
?very tired
wiped out
?informal, very tired
,spent
?figurative exhaustion
📝 In Action
Llegué a casa matado después del turno de diez horas.
B1I got home exhausted after the ten-hour shift.
Mi hermana está matada con los exámenes finales; no ha dormido bien.
B2My sister is worn out from final exams; she hasn't slept well.
💡 Grammar Points
Masculine vs. Feminine
Since this is an adjective, make sure it matches the person you are describing: 'Estoy matado' (if male) or 'Estoy matada' (if female).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'ser' instead of 'estar'
Mistake: "Soy matado."
Correction: Estoy matado. Use 'estar' because exhaustion is a temporary state, not a permanent characteristic.
⭐ Usage Tips
Emphasis on Extreme Fatigue
Using 'matado' suggests a level of fatigue much greater than simply 'cansado' (tired). It means you feel utterly depleted.
Matado describes the state of having been slain or killed.
📝 In Action
El animal encontrado era un venado matado por un cazador furtivo.
B1The animal found was a deer killed by a poacher.
Se confirmó que el ladrón fue matado durante el tiroteo.
B2It was confirmed that the thief was killed during the shootout.
💡 Grammar Points
Passive Voice
This adjective is the past participle of 'matar' (to kill) and is often used to form the passive voice with the verb 'ser' (e.g., 'fue matado' means 'it was killed').
In some contexts, matado is used as a noun meaning "bookworm," referring to someone who studies obsessively.
matado(Adjective/Noun)
bookworm
?a person who studies excessively
grind
?someone who works too hard
,overachiever
?sometimes used negatively
📝 In Action
No salgas con él; es un matado que solo piensa en estudiar.
C1Don't go out with him; he's a bookworm who only thinks about studying.
Dejamos de ser amigos porque se volvió un matado y no tenía tiempo para fiestas.
C1We stopped being friends because he became a grind and had no time for parties.
💡 Grammar Points
Used as a Noun
In this specific context, 'matado' often acts as a noun to refer to the person itself ('un matado'), rather than just describing them.
⭐ Usage Tips
Regional Context is Key
Be careful using this outside of Mexico or Central America, where it might only be understood as 'exhausted' or 'killed.' The meaning depends entirely on the location.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: matado
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'matado' to mean 'exhausted'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I use 'matado' or 'cansado' if I am tired?
Use 'cansado' for general tiredness. Use 'matado' when you are *extremely* tired—when you feel completely worn out or wiped out. It’s stronger and more informal.
How do I make 'matado' feminine or plural?
Just like any other adjective ending in -o, change the ending: 'matada' (feminine singular), 'matados' (masculine plural), and 'matadas' (feminine plural). For example, 'Las chicas están matadas.'