mató
/ma-TO/
he/she killed
The word 'mató' (he/she/it killed) describes a completed past action, such as when the frost killed the plants.
mató(Verb)
he/she killed
?to cause the death of a living being
it killed
?referring to an animal or inanimate force
,you killed
?formal 'you' (usted)
📝 In Action
El cazador mató al ciervo.
A2The hunter killed the deer.
La helada mató todas las plantas del jardín.
B1The frost killed all the plants in the garden.
Según el informe, el veneno lo mató instantáneamente.
B2According to the report, the poison killed him instantly.
💡 Grammar Points
A Finished Past Action (Preterite Tense)
'Mató' is used for a single, completed action in the past. It tells you that someone or something did the killing and finished. It's a snapshot of a past event.
❌ Common Pitfalls
The Accent is Crucial
Mistake: "El insecticida mato las cucarachas."
Correction: El insecticida mató las cucarachas. Without the accent, 'mato' means 'I kill' (present tense). The accent on the 'o' shifts the action to the past and changes who did it (he/she/it).
⭐ Usage Tips
Not Just for Living Things
You can use 'matar' for more than just people or animals. A drought can 'kill' crops ('la sequía mató los cultivos'), or a power surge can 'kill' an appliance ('el apagón mató mi computadora').
Figuratively, 'mató' (it killed) is used informally to mean something was overwhelmingly funny or sad, as in 'it killed me with laughter.'
mató(Verb)
it killed / it ruined
?figurative, e.g., 'the joke killed the mood'
he/she wore out
?e.g., 'he killed his shoes by walking so much'
,it was a killer
?slang, to describe something as amazing or very funny
📝 In Action
Su comentario grosero mató el buen ambiente de la cena.
B2His rude comment killed the good atmosphere of the dinner.
El final de la película me mató, ¡fue muy triste!
B1The end of the movie killed me, it was so sad!
¡Ese chiste me mató de la risa!
B1That joke killed me with laughter!
⭐ Usage Tips
For Good and Bad
This emotional use can be negative ('it killed the vibe') or positive ('it killed me with laughter'). Pay attention to the rest of the sentence to know if it's a good or bad thing.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
preterite
imperfect
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: mató
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'mató' in a figurative (not literal) way?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'mató' and 'mataba'?
Both are past tenses, but they describe the past differently. 'Mató' is for a single, completed action, like a snapshot: 'The hunter killed the deer.' 'Mataba' (the imperfect tense) is for ongoing or repeated actions in the past, like a video: 'In the story, the dragon was killing villagers every week.'
Is 'matar' always a negative or violent word?
While its main meaning is serious, Spanish speakers use it figuratively all the time in informal situations. Expressions like 'matar el tiempo' (to kill time) or 'me mató de la risa' (it killed me with laughter) are very common and not considered violent at all.