matar
“matar” means “to kill” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
to kill
Also: to murder, to slay
📝 In Action
Las heladas mataron todas las flores.
A2The frosts killed all the flowers.
En la película, el héroe mata al dragón.
B1In the movie, the hero slays the dragon.
Es ilegal matar animales en peligro de extinción.
B1It is illegal to kill endangered animals.
to kill time
Also: to bore, to wear out
📝 In Action
Mientras esperaba el autobús, leí un libro para matar el tiempo.
B1While I waited for the bus, I read a book to kill time.
Esta clase me está matando de aburrimiento.
B1This class is killing me with boredom.
Mi jefe me mata con tanto trabajo.
B2My boss is killing me with so much work.
to overpower
Also: to ruin (a flavor), to drown out
📝 In Action
No le pongas tanta cebolla, vas a matar el sabor del pescado.
B2Don't add so much onion, you're going to overpower the taste of the fish.
El color brillante de la pared mata la delicadeza de los muebles.
C1The bright color of the wall ruins the delicacy of the furniture.
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: matar
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'matar' in a figurative (not literal) way?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the informal Latin word '*mattāre*', which meant 'to beat with a club' or 'to cudgel'. This eventually replaced the classical Latin word for 'to kill', *necare*.
First recorded: Around the 10th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'matar' and 'morir'?
It's the difference between 'to kill' and 'to die'. 'Matar' is an action that someone or something does *to* another being (e.g., 'El cazador mata al animal' - The hunter kills the animal). 'Morir' is what happens *to* the being (e.g., 'El animal muere' - The animal dies).
Is 'matar' always a negative or violent word?
No, not always! While its main meaning is very strong and often negative, it has many common, neutral, or even positive figurative uses. Saying 'matar el tiempo' (to kill time) is very normal, and in some places, saying something 'mata' can mean it's awesome or 'killer'!