matan
/MAH-tahn/
they kill
In its literal sense, 'matan' means 'they kill.' Here, two figures terminate the movement of a small shape.
matan(Verb)
they kill
?present action, third person plural
,you all kill
?present action, formal plural (ustedes)
they murder
?violent act
,they slay
?formal/literary
📝 In Action
Dicen que las leyes nuevas matan la economía.
B1They say the new laws are killing the economy.
Los leones matan solo cuando tienen hambre.
A2Lions only kill when they are hungry.
Ustedes matan el tiempo esperando el autobús.
A2You all are killing time waiting for the bus.
💡 Grammar Points
The 'Present' Tense
The form 'matan' describes actions happening now, routine actions, or facts. It is used when the subjects are 'ellos' (they, masculine/mixed), 'ellas' (they, feminine), or 'ustedes' (you all/y'all, formal).
Personal 'a'
When 'matan' acts upon a person or pet, you must use the preposition 'a' before the victim: 'Matan a los prisioneros.' (They kill the prisoners).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Indicative and Subjunctive
Mistake: "Using 'maten' when stating a fact."
Correction: Use 'matan' for facts ('Ellos matan') and 'maten' only for wishes, doubts, or indirect commands ('Quiero que ellos maten...').
⭐ Usage Tips
Focus on the Subject
Since 'matan' is a plural form, remember your subject must also be plural (e.g., 'Los mosquitos,' 'Las noticias,' 'Ustedes').
Figuratively, 'matan' means 'they exhaust.' Two figures have completely worn out a third figure.
matan(Verb)
they exhaust
?figurative: to tire completely
,they bore to death
?figurative: to cause extreme boredom
they destroy
?figurative: to ruin strength or spirit
📝 In Action
Las deudas y el estrés matan la felicidad de la gente.
B1Debts and stress kill people's happiness.
Estas largas reuniones matan a los empleados.
B2These long meetings exhaust the employees.
Dicen que los impuestos altos matan la inversión.
B2They say high taxes destroy investment.
💡 Grammar Points
Feeling the Action
This figurative use often involves using a pronoun to show who is affected: 'Me matan' (They are killing/exhausting me). The thing doing the 'killing' (the subject, e.g., 'el trabajo') is always plural when using 'matan'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Use for Intensity
Use this meaning when you want to express that something is extremely tiresome, painful, or overwhelming, far beyond simple annoyance.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: matan
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'matan' in its figurative sense (to exhaust or bore)?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if 'matan' is indicative or subjunctive?
The form 'matan' is used for both the Present Indicative (facts: 'They kill') and the Present Subjunctive (wishes/commands: 'I want them to kill'). You tell the difference by looking at the word that comes before it. If it's used after a trigger like 'Quiero que...' (I want that...), it is usually subjunctive.
Is 'matan' a strong or weak verb?
'Matar' is a regular -ar verb, meaning its endings follow the standard pattern perfectly. It does not have any tricky stem changes or irregularities.