How to Say "mortal" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “mortal” is “mortal” — use this when referring to something that causes death, like a venom or a wound, or when describing a being that is subject to death, as opposed to an immortal one..
mortal
/mor-TAL//moɾˈtal/
Examples
La serpiente tiene un veneno mortal.
The snake has a deadly venom.
La cobra tiene un veneno mortal.
The cobra has a deadly venom.
Para algunos, la envidia es un pecado mortal.
For some, envy is a mortal sin.
Los dioses son inmortales, pero nosotros somos mortales.
The gods are immortal, but we are mortal.
Adjective Placement
Like many Spanish adjectives, 'mortal' usually goes after the noun it describes (e.g., 'veneno mortal').
humano
/oo-MAH-no//uˈmano/
Examples
El cuerpo humano es frágil.
The human body is fragile.
El cuerpo humano es una máquina increíble.
The human body is an incredible machine.
Cometer errores es muy humano.
Making mistakes is very human.
Es necesario un trato más humano para los refugiados.
A more humane treatment for refugees is necessary.
Making Adjectives Match
In Spanish, words that describe things (adjectives) must match the thing they're describing. 'Humano' changes to 'humana' for feminine things, 'humanos' for multiple masculine things, and 'humanas' for multiple feminine things. For example: 'el niño humano' (the human boy), 'la niña humana' (the human girl).
Forgetting to Change the Ending
Mistake: “La especie humano es fascinante.”
Correction: La especie humana es fascinante. Because 'especie' (species) is a feminine word, you need to use the feminine form 'humana' to match it.
mortal
/mor-TAL//moɾˈtal/
Examples
El héroe, un simple mortal, luchó contra el dragón.
The hero, a mere mortal, fought against the dragon.
La cobra tiene un veneno mortal.
The cobra has a deadly venom.
Para algunos, la envidia es un pecado mortal.
For some, envy is a mortal sin.
Los dioses son inmortales, pero nosotros somos mortales.
The gods are immortal, but we are mortal.
Adjective Placement
Like many Spanish adjectives, 'mortal' usually goes after the noun it describes (e.g., 'veneno mortal').
mortales
/mor-TAH-lehs//moɾˈtales/
Examples
Los soldados sufrieron heridas mortales.
The soldiers suffered mortal wounds.
El guerrero sufrió varias heridas mortales.
The warrior suffered several deadly wounds.
Todos somos mortales y debemos aceptar el fin.
We are all mortal and must accept the end.
Making 'L' Words Plural
For words ending in 'l' like 'mortal', you make them plural by adding 'es' at the end.
Gender Consistency
Mistake: “Using 'mortalas' for feminine groups.”
Correction: The word 'mortales' stays the same for both masculine and feminine groups. Use 'los hombres mortales' and 'las mujeres mortales'.
Human vs. Deadly
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