muerto
/MWER-toh/
dead
Visualizing 'muerto' as an adjective describing the state of being lifeless, like a wilted flower.
muerto(Adjective)
📝 In Action
Cuando llegué, la planta ya estaba muerta.
A2When I arrived, the plant was already dead.
Estoy muerto de cansancio, necesito dormir.
B1I'm dead tired, I need to sleep.
Se me quedó el brazo muerto después de dormir sobre él.
B2My arm went numb after sleeping on it.
💡 Grammar Points
Always Use 'Estar', Not 'Ser'
To describe the state of being dead, always use the verb 'estar'. Think of it as a condition or state someone is in. 'Estar muerto' means 'to be dead'.
Matches Gender and Number
Like most adjectives, 'muerto' changes to match the person or thing it describes: 'el perro muerto' (the dead dog), 'la planta muerta' (the dead plant), 'los árboles muertos' (the dead trees).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'Ser' for 'To Be Dead'
Mistake: "El pez es muerto."
Correction: El pez está muerto. Use 'estar' to talk about the state or condition of being dead. Using 'ser' (as in 'fue muerto') means 'was killed', which describes the action of killing, not the state of being dead.
⭐ Usage Tips
For Exaggeration
Just like in English, you can use 'muerto' to exaggerate feelings. 'Estoy muerto de aburrimiento' means 'I'm bored to death'.
Representing 'muerto' as a noun: a person who has passed away, symbolized here through cultural remembrance.
muerto(Noun)
📝 In Action
El accidente de tráfico dejó dos muertos y varios heridos.
B1The traffic accident left two dead (people) and several injured.
El Día de los Muertos es una celebración importante en México.
A2The Day of the Dead is an important celebration in Mexico.
Encontraron a un muerto en el río.
B2They found a dead person in the river.
💡 Grammar Points
'Los muertos' = 'The Dead'
When you use 'muerto' with 'el', 'la', 'los', or 'las', it acts as a noun. 'Los muertos' is a common way to refer to 'the dead' as a group.
⭐ Usage Tips
Context is Key
You'll know 'muerto' is a noun instead of an adjective because it will act like one. For example, it might follow a number ('dos muertos') or an article like 'un' or 'el' ('un muerto').
Illustrating 'muerto' as the past participle, marking the completion of the action of dying.
muerto(Verb (Past Participle))
📝 In Action
El famoso actor ha muerto a los 90 años.
A2The famous actor has died at 90 years old.
Para cuando llegaron los médicos, el paciente ya había muerto.
B1By the time the doctors arrived, the patient had already died.
💡 Grammar Points
An Irregular Form
'Muerto' is the special past participle of 'morir' (to die). The regular form would be 'morido', but this is always incorrect. You must memorize this irregular form!
Used with 'Haber'
You'll almost always see this form paired with the helping verb 'haber' to talk about things that have happened (e.g., 'ha muerto' - has died) or had happened ('había muerto' - had died).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using the Wrong Form
Mistake: "El perro ha morido."
Correction: El perro ha muerto. 'Morir' is one of several common verbs with an irregular past participle that you just have to learn by heart.
⭐ Usage Tips
Does Not Change
When used with 'haber' to form a tense like 'ha muerto', the word 'muerto' never changes. It stays 'muerto' whether you're talking about one man, one woman, or a group of people.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: muerto
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly describes a plant that is no longer alive?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'murió' and 'ha muerto'?
Great question! Both mean 'died', but they are used in different situations. 'Murió' (simple past tense) is for a completed action in the past, often at a specific time ('Él murió ayer' - He died yesterday). 'Ha muerto' (present perfect tense) is used for a more recent death or one where the specific time isn't mentioned, connecting the past event to the present ('El rey ha muerto' - The king has died).
Why is it 'está muerto' and not 'es muerto'?
This is a classic 'ser' vs. 'estar' puzzle! Think of 'estar' for states and conditions. Being dead is a state. So, 'El gato está muerto' means 'The cat is dead'. Using 'ser' as in 'El gato fue muerto por un coche' means 'The cat was killed by a car'. It describes the action of being killed, not the state of being dead. For the state, always use 'estar'.
Can I say 'la muerta'?
Yes, absolutely! 'Muerto' changes to match the gender of the person or thing. If you are talking about a female, you would use 'la muerta' (the dead woman) as a noun, or 'la gata está muerta' (the female cat is dead) as an adjective.