mortal
“mortal” means “deadly” in Spanish. It has 4 different meanings depending on context:
deadly
Also: lethal, mortal
📝 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.
mortal
Also: human
📝 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.
mortal
Also: person
📝 In Action
El héroe era un mortal que desafió a los gigantes.
B2The hero was a mortal who challenged the giants.
hilarious
Also: brutal, awesome
📝 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.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: mortal
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'mortal' with its informal, slang meaning?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word comes directly from the Latin word *mortalis*, which itself is based on *mors*, meaning 'death.' It has always been connected to the idea of being subject to death.
First recorded: Around the 13th century in Spanish
Cognates (Related words)
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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'.