How to Say "dead" in Spanish
The Spanish word for “dead” is “muerto” — A2 level. This is a very common word in everyday Spanish.
Examples
Cuando llegué, la planta ya estaba muerta.
When I arrived, the plant was already dead.
Estoy muerto de cansancio, necesito dormir.
I'm dead tired, I need to sleep.
Se me quedó el brazo muerto después de dormir sobre él.
My arm went numb after sleeping on it.
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).
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.
Related Translations
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