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rematar

reh-mah-tahrre.maˈtaɾ

“rematar” means “to finish off” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

to finish off

Also: to top off, to conclude
VerbB1regular ar
A person placing a bright red cherry on top of a large, frosted chocolate cake to finish it.
gerundrematando
past Participlerematado
infinitiverematar

📝 In Action

Rematamos la cena con un postre de chocolate.

A2

We finished off the dinner with a chocolate dessert.

Faltan unos detalles para rematar el informe.

B1

A few details are missing to finish off the report.

Ella remató su discurso con una frase inspiradora.

B2

She concluded her speech with an inspiring phrase.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • rematar la faena – to finish the job
  • rematar un negocio – to close a deal

Idioms & Expressions

  • para rematar – to top it all off (usually after a series of bad events)

to shoot

Also: to head, to spike
VerbB1regular ar
A soccer player's foot kicking a soccer ball towards a goal net.
gerundrematando
past Participlerematado
infinitiverematar

📝 In Action

El delantero remató de cabeza y marcó un gol.

B1

The forward headed the ball and scored a goal.

Tienes que rematar con más fuerza.

A2

You have to shoot with more power.

Remató el balón al primer toque.

B2

He struck the ball on the first touch.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • chutar (to shoot (soccer))
  • disparar (to shoot)

Common Collocations

  • rematar a puerta – to shoot at the goal
  • rematar de cabeza – to head the ball

Subjunctive

Imperfect Subjunctive

yorematara
túremataras
él/ella/ustedrematara
nosotrosrematáramos
vosotrosrematarais
ellos/ellas/ustedesremataran

Present Subjunctive

yoremate
túremates
él/ella/ustedremate
nosotrosrematemos
vosotrosrematéis
ellos/ellas/ustedesrematen

Indicative

Preterite

yorematé
túremataste
él/ella/ustedremató
nosotrosrematamos
vosotrosrematasteis
ellos/ellas/ustedesremataron

Imperfect

yoremataba
túrematabas
él/ella/ustedremataba
nosotrosrematábamos
vosotrosrematabais
ellos/ellas/ustedesremataban

Present

yoremato
túrematas
él/ella/ustedremata
nosotrosrematamos
vosotrosrematáis
ellos/ellas/ustedesrematan
View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "rematar" in Spanish:

to conclude→to head→to shoot→to spike→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: rematar

Question 1 of 3

If you are playing soccer and hit the ball with your head into the goal, you are...

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
remate(finish, ending, or shot (sports)) — Noun
rematado(finished, or 'utter' (as in 'utter fool')) — Adjective
matar(to kill) — Verb
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the Spanish prefix 're-' (which adds emphasis or means 'again') and the verb 'matar' (to kill or to strike). It originally meant to strike a final, killing blow, but evolved to mean finishing anything completely.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: rematar

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'rematar' related to 'matar' (to kill)?

Yes! It originally meant to finish off a wounded animal. Today, while it can still mean that in specific contexts, it is mostly used for finishing tasks, meals, or shots in sports.

Can I use 'rematar' for finishing a book?

It's better to use 'terminar'. Use 'rematar' if you are finishing the *writing* or *editing* of a book (adding the final touches).

Is 'rematado' always a verb?

No, it can be an adjective meaning 'utter' or 'complete,' often used in phrases like 'loco rematado' (utterly crazy).