mataran
“mataran” means “they killed” in Spanish (used in 'if' or imaginary situations).
they killed, they would kill
Also: they were to kill
📝 In Action
Si ellos mataran a la araña, yo entraría al cuarto.
B1If they killed the spider, I would go into the room.
Era improbable que mataran el tiempo de esa manera.
B2It was unlikely that they would kill time in that way.
Temía que mataran a los personajes principales en el final.
B2I was afraid they would kill the main characters in the finale.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "mataran" in Spanish:
they killed→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: mataran
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence is correct for 'If they killed the lights, we couldn't see'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin word 'mactare', which originally meant 'to glorify' or 'to sacrifice', and eventually evolved into 'to kill' in Spanish.
First recorded: 12th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'mataran' and 'matasen'?
They mean exactly the same thing! Spanish has two ways to say this 'what if' past form. 'Mataran' is much more common in daily speech and in Latin America.
Does 'mataran' always mean taking a life?
Not always. It can be used figuratively, like 'matar el tiempo' (to kill time) or 'matar la curiosidad' (to satisfy curiosity).