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A simple storybook illustration showing three stylized figures wearing black masks surrounding and restraining a single smaller figure in a blue cloak on a bright green hill.

maten

MAH-ten

verbB1regular ar
that they kill?Subjunctive use (e.g., 'I hope that they kill'),kill (you all)?Formal command (Imperative)
Also:that you (plural, formal) kill?Subjunctive use (ustedes),that they destroy/ruin?Figurative use

Quick Reference

infinitivematar
gerundmatando
past Participlematado

📝 In Action

Espero que no maten la discusión con ese comentario.

B1

I hope they don't kill (ruin) the discussion with that comment.

El jefe dijo: '¡Maten ese proyecto si no es viable!'

B2

The boss said: 'Kill (scrap) that project if it's not viable!' (Formal command to a group)

No permitan que los mosquitos maten a los animales.

B1

Don't allow the mosquitoes to kill the animals.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • salvar (to save)
  • revivir (to revive)

Common Collocations

  • matar el tiempo – to kill time
  • matar la sed – to quench thirst

💡 Grammar Points

Subjunctive Use (Wishes/Doubt)

You use 'maten' when expressing a wish, desire, or doubt that a group (they/you all) might perform the action. This happens after verbs like 'querer que' (want that) or 'espero que' (I hope that).

Formal Commands

'Maten' is also the formal command for 'you all' (ustedes). It is used for both positive commands ('¡Maten!') and negative commands ('¡No maten!').

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing Formality

Mistake: "Using 'maten' when giving an informal command to a group in Spain (where 'vosotros' is common)."

Correction: In Spain, the informal command is 'matad'. 'Maten' is usually reserved for formal settings or for Latin America where 'ustedes' is used for everyone.

⭐ Usage Tips

Figurative Meaning

Remember that 'matar' often means 'to ruin' or 'to destroy' something non-physical, like 'matar la esperanza' (to kill hope) or 'matar la conversación'.

🔄 Conjugations

indicative

present

él/ella/ustedmata
yomato
túmatas
ellos/ellas/ustedesmatan
nosotrosmatamos
vosotrosmatáis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedmataba
yomataba
túmatabas
ellos/ellas/ustedesmataban
nosotrosmatábamos
vosotrosmatabais

preterite

él/ella/ustedmató
yomaté
túmataste
ellos/ellas/ustedesmataron
nosotrosmatamos
vosotrosmatasteis

subjunctive

present

él/ella/ustedmate
yomate
túmates
ellos/ellas/ustedesmaten
nosotrosmatemos
vosotrosmatéis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedmatara
yomatara
túmataras
ellos/ellas/ustedesmataran
nosotrosmatáramos
vosotrosmatarais
View All Tenses & Moods →

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: maten

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence correctly uses 'maten' as a formal command?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

matar(to kill) - verb
matanza(slaughter, massacre) - noun
matador(killer, bullfighter) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'maten' the same as 'matan'?

No. 'Matan' is used for actions that are facts (Indicative Present: 'They kill'). 'Maten' is used for wishes, doubts, or formal commands (Subjunctive/Imperative: 'I hope they kill' or 'Kill!'). They look similar but serve very different purposes in a sentence.