matarla
/mah-TAHR-lah/
to kill her
Used literally, matarla means 'to kill her'.
matarla(Verb)
to kill her
?Literal action directed at a female person or feminine object
,to kill it
?When 'it' refers to a feminine noun (e.g., 'la mosca' - the fly)
to ruin it
?Figurative: to destroy an opportunity or idea (if feminine)
📝 In Action
No pude matarla con la primera flecha.
B1I couldn't kill her with the first arrow.
Hay que matarla de una vez por todas.
B2We have to kill it (e.g., a bad habit, 'la costumbre') once and for all.
Querían matarla, pero no pudieron.
A2They wanted to kill her, but they couldn't.
💡 Grammar Points
Infinitive + Object Pronoun
When you have two verbs together (like 'querer matar' or 'deber matar'), the pronoun ('la') must attach directly to the end of the infinitive ('matar').
Stress Change
Adding 'la' to the infinitive shifts the stress to the last syllable of the verb: ma-TAR-la. The original stress was on 'tar,' but adding the pronoun makes it necessary to emphasize the 'tar' even more.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Pronoun Placement Error
Mistake: "Quiero la matar."
Correction: Quiero matarla. (The pronoun usually goes before the conjugated verb OR attached to the infinitive/gerund.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Focus on 'La'
Remember that 'la' means the object you are killing must be feminine, whether it’s a person or a thing like 'la idea' (the idea) or 'la araña' (the spider).
Figuratively, matarla is used to mean 'to exhaust her' or to tire someone out completely.
matarla(Verb)
to exhaust her
?To tire someone out completely
,to wear her out
?Figurative exhaustion from work or effort
to bore her to death
?Figurative extreme boredom
📝 In Action
No es bueno matarla con tantas tareas.
B2It's not good to exhaust her with so many tasks.
El viaje va a matarla si no descansa.
B2The trip is going to wear her out if she doesn't rest.
💡 Grammar Points
Figurative Meaning
In many Spanish-speaking regions, 'matar' is used dramatically to mean 'to tire out' or 'to wear oneself out,' similar to how we might say 'I'm dead tired' in English.
⭐ Usage Tips
Informal Context
This figurative meaning is usually used in casual conversation and often relates to physical effort or extreme stress.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: matarla
Question 1 of 2
In the phrase 'No quiero matarla con este ejercicio', what does 'matarla' most likely mean?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the pronoun 'la' attached to the end of the verb?
In Spanish, whenever you use a verb in its base form (the infinitive, like 'matar'), the command form (imperative), or the '-ing' form (gerund), the small object pronouns like 'la' or 'me' must stick right onto the end of that verb form.
Can I separate 'matar' and 'la'?
Yes, but only if you move the pronoun to the front of the conjugated verb that precedes the infinitive. For example, instead of 'Quiero matarla,' you can say 'La quiero matar.' You cannot say 'Quiero la matar.' The pronoun must always be next to a verb.