muertos
“muertos” means “the dead” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
the dead
Also: casualties
📝 In Action
En el Día de los Muertos, honramos a nuestros muertos.
A2On the Day of the Dead, we honor our dead.
El accidente dejó varios muertos y heridos.
B1The accident left several dead and injured.
dead
Also: exhausted, numb
📝 In Action
Encontraron dos árboles muertos en el jardín.
B1They found two dead trees in the garden.
Los corredores llegaron muertos de cansancio a la meta.
B2The runners arrived at the finish line dead tired.
Después de caminar todo el día, tengo los pies muertos.
B2After walking all day, my feet are numb.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: muertos
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'muertos' in a figurative way to mean 'very tired'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word 'mortuus', which was the way of saying 'dead' or 'having died'. 'Muertos' is simply the masculine plural version of this word, which has survived in Spanish for centuries.
First recorded: Ancient, derived directly from Latin.
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'muertos' related to the verb 'morir' (to die)?
Yes, absolutely! 'Muerto' is the past participle of 'morir'. A past participle is a form of a verb that can often be used as a descriptive word (an adjective). So, something that 'ha muerto' (has died) is now 'muerto' (dead).
Why do I see 'Día de los Muertos' and sometimes 'Día de Muertos'?
Both are correct and widely used, especially in Mexico. 'Día de los Muertos' (Day of the Dead) is very common, while 'Día de Muertos' is also frequently used and can be seen as slightly more traditional. They mean the same thing.