murió
“murió” means “he died” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
he died, she died, it died, you died
📝 In Action
Mi abuelo murió el año pasado.
A2My grandfather died last year.
La planta murió porque no la regué.
A2The plant died because I didn't water it.
El famoso cantante murió en un accidente de avión.
B1The famous singer died in a plane crash.
he/she died
Also: he/she was dying for/to
📝 In Action
Casi murió de la risa cuando le conté el chiste.
B1He almost died of laughter when I told him the joke.
Murió de vergüenza cuando se cayó en público.
B1She died of embarrassment when she fell in public.
Murió por volver a verla, pero ella nunca regresó.
B2He was dying to see her again, but she never came back.
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: murió
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'murió' in a figurative (not literal) way?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin verb 'morī', which also meant 'to die' or 'to wither'. The specific form 'murió' evolved from the Latin perfect tense 'moruit'.
First recorded: Around the 10th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'murió' and 'moría'?
'Murió' is for a finished past action: 'He died yesterday.' It's a completed event. 'Moría' describes an action in progress in the past: 'He was dying when the doctor arrived.' It focuses on the process, not the final result.
Is it rude to say 'murió'?
Not at all, it's the most direct and common way to say 'he/she died'. However, in some contexts, people prefer the softer term 'falleció' (passed away), which can sound more formal and respectful.
Why do I sometimes see 'se murió'?
Using 'se murió' (from the verb 'morirse') often adds a bit more personal or emotional emphasis. It can suggest a more natural or unexpected death, or it's used very commonly in the figurative senses, like 'se murió de risa' (he died of laughter).