How to Say "it killed" in Spanish
The Spanish word for “it killed” is “mató” — A2 level. This is a very common word in everyday Spanish.
Examples
El cazador mató al ciervo.
The hunter killed the deer.
La helada mató todas las plantas del jardín.
The frost killed all the plants in the garden.
Según el informe, el veneno lo mató instantáneamente.
According to the report, the poison killed him instantly.
A Finished Past Action (Preterite Tense)
'Mató' is used for a single, completed action in the past. It tells you that someone or something did the killing and finished. It's a snapshot of a past event.
The Accent is Crucial
Mistake: “El insecticida mato las cucarachas.”
Correction: El insecticida mató las cucarachas. Without the accent, 'mato' means 'I kill' (present tense). The accent on the 'o' shifts the action to the past and changes who did it (he/she/it).
Learn Spanish with Inklingo
Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.