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muerte

MWER-tehˈmweɾte

death

Also: demise, Death
NounfA2
A depiction of the Grim Reaper, a skeletal figure in a long black hooded cloak holding a large scythe, symbolizing the personification of death.

📝 In Action

La muerte es una parte natural de la vida.

A2

Death is a natural part of life.

Le tiene miedo a la muerte.

B1

He is afraid of death.

En el cuadro, la Muerte juega al ajedrez con un caballero.

B2

In the painting, Death plays chess with a knight.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • causa de la muerte – cause of death
  • pena de muerte – death penalty
  • sentencia de muerte – death sentence

Idioms & Expressions

  • estar a las puertas de la muerte – to be at death's door

death

Also: fatality
NounfB1
A single, simple white tombstone standing alone in a vast, green, peaceful field under a clear sky, representing a specific fatality.

📝 In Action

La policía investiga la muerte del empresario.

B1

The police are investigating the death of the businessman.

Hubo varias muertes en el accidente de tren.

B1

There were several deaths in the train accident.

Su muerte fue una sorpresa para todos.

A2

His death was a surprise to everyone.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • víctima (victim)
  • baja (casualty (in war/conflict))

Common Collocations

  • muerte accidental – accidental death
  • muerte violenta – violent death

end

Also: a killer, a nightmare
NounfB2informal
A broken, dusty video cassette tape lying abandoned next to a crumbling building entrance, symbolizing the ruin or end of a business.

📝 In Action

La llegada de internet fue la muerte del videoclub.

B2

The arrival of the internet was the death of the video store.

¡Qué calor! Esto es la muerte.

B2

It's so hot! This is a killer / This is torture.

Trabajar con él es la muerte; es muy exigente.

C1

Working with him is a nightmare; he's very demanding.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Idioms & Expressions

  • ser la muerte a pellizcos – to be a slow and painful process

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "muerte" in Spanish:

a killer→a nightmare→death→demise→end→fatality→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: muerte

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'muerte' to mean a specific, countable event?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Comes from the Latin word 'mors' (and its form 'mortem'), which meant 'death'. It's a direct descendant that has kept its original meaning for thousands of years.

First recorded: 10th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: morteFrench: mortItalian: morteEnglish: mortal, murder

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Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between 'muerte' and 'muerto'?

Great question! 'Muerte' is a noun, meaning 'death' (the concept or an event). 'Muerto' is usually an adjective meaning 'dead'. So you talk about 'la muerte' (death), but a person 'está muerto' (is dead).

Why is 'muerte' feminine ('la muerte') if it ends in '-e'?

You've spotted one of Spanish's tricky parts! While many words ending in '-o' are masculine and '-a' are feminine, words ending in '-e' can be either. 'Muerte' is one you just have to memorize as feminine. Luckily, it's so common you'll get used to saying 'la muerte' very quickly!