muertas
“muertas” means “dead” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
dead, deceased
Also: lifeless, off
📝 In Action
Las baterías de mi linterna están muertas.
A2The batteries in my flashlight are dead.
Encontraron varias flores muertas en el jardín.
A1They found several dead flowers in the garden.
Dicen que sus esperanzas están muertas después de la noticia.
B1They say their hopes are dead after the news.
the dead women
Also: the female casualties
📝 In Action
La lista de las muertas incluía a tres ancianas.
B2The list of the dead women included three elderly women.
Nunca olvidaremos a las muertas de la guerra.
B1We will never forget the dead women of the war.
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: muertas
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'muertas'?
📚 More Resources
📚 Etymology▼
The word comes from the Latin word *mortuus*, which was the past participle of the verb *mori*, meaning 'to die'. The Spanish word 'muertas' has kept that original meaning of 'having died'.
First recorded: Around the 10th century (in Old Spanish forms)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'muertas' have an 'e' sound when the verb 'morir' (to die) uses an 'o'?
This is a common change in Spanish verbs! 'Morir' is a 'stem-changing' verb. When it's conjugated in the present tense (like 'yo muero'), the 'o' changes to 'ue'. The past participle form, 'muerto' (and its variants like 'muertas'), also carries this change, derived from the Latin root.
What is the difference between 'muertas' and 'muertos'?
'Muertas' is used only for groups of women or feminine objects (e.g., 'las luces muertas'). 'Muertos' is used for groups of men, mixed groups of men and women, or masculine objects (e.g., 'los soldados muertos').