mortal
/mor-TAL/
deadly
Mortal can mean 'deadly' or 'fatal'.
📝 In Action
La cobra tiene un veneno mortal.
A2The cobra has a deadly venom.
Para algunos, la envidia es un pecado mortal.
B1For some, envy is a mortal sin.
💡 Grammar Points
Adjective Placement
Like many Spanish adjectives, 'mortal' usually goes after the noun it describes (e.g., 'veneno mortal').
⭐ Usage Tips
Literal Meaning
Always use this meaning when referring to something that is literally capable of causing death or spiritual ruin (like a 'mortal sin').
We use mortal to describe something that is 'subject to death'.
📝 In Action
Los dioses son inmortales, pero nosotros somos mortales.
B1The gods are immortal, but we are mortal.
La vida mortal es breve.
B2Mortal life is brief.
As a noun, mortal refers to a 'human being'.
📝 In Action
El héroe era un mortal que desafió a los gigantes.
B2The hero was a mortal who challenged the giants.
⭐ Usage Tips
Literary Use
You will mostly find 'el mortal' or 'los mortales' in older texts, myths, or when speaking poetically about humanity.
In some contexts, particularly in Spain, mortal is an adjective meaning 'hilarious' or 'very funny'.
mortal(adjective)
hilarious
?very funny (especially Spain)
brutal
?extremely difficult/intense
,awesome
?great/fantastic
📝 In Action
El chiste que contó fue mortal, lloré de la risa.
C1The joke he told was hilarious, I cried laughing.
La subida a la montaña estuvo mortal, casi no llego.
C1The climb up the mountain was brutal, I almost didn't make it.
⭐ Usage Tips
Slang Alert
In casual conversation, 'mortal' usually means the opposite of death—it means something is intensely good, funny, or overwhelmingly difficult. Think of it like the English slang 'killer' or 'sick'.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: mortal
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'mortal' with its informal, slang meaning?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if 'mortal' means 'deadly' or 'hilarious'?
Context is everything! If you are talking about a snake, a disease, or an injury, it means 'deadly.' If you are talking about a movie, a joke, or a party, it almost certainly means 'extremely funny' or 'intense/awesome.' Listen to the tone of the speaker.
Does 'mortal' change for masculine and feminine nouns?
No, because 'mortal' ends in an 'l', it stays the same whether the noun is masculine or feminine (e.g., 'el veneno mortal' and 'la herida mortal'). You only change it for plural: 'mortales'.