matara
“matara” means “I/he/she killed (hypothetically)” in Spanish (as in 'if I were to kill').
I/he/she killed (hypothetically), I/he/she might killAlso: were to kill
📝 In Action
Si yo matara el tiempo, lo haría leyendo.
B2If I were to kill time, I would do it by reading.
Ella no creía que él matara el motor por accidente.
B2She didn't believe that he had killed the engine by accident.
Me pidió que matara la luz antes de salir.
B1He asked me to turn off (kill) the light before leaving.
Word Connections
Indicative
Imperfect
Present
Preterite
Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: matara
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'matara' to express a past desire?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family
🎵 Rhymes
📚 Etymology
Comes from the Latin verb *mactāre*, which originally meant 'to honor' or 'to sacrifice,' but eventually evolved in Vulgar Latin to mean 'to kill' or 'to slay.'
First recorded: Old Spanish (circa 13th century)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'matara' the same as 'matase'?
Yes, they are two different ways to say the exact same thing: the imperfect subjunctive form of 'matar.' You can use either one, but 'matara' is generally more common in modern Spanish.
Why is 'matara' sometimes translated as 'would kill'?
When 'matara' is used after the word 'si' (if) to describe an unlikely or hypothetical event, it often translates into English using the construction 'if I were to kill' or 'if I killed,' which is conceptually similar to 'would kill' in that context.