Inklingo

How to Say "you kill" in Spanish

English → Spanish

matas

MAH-tas/ˈma.tas/

verbA2informal
Use 'matas' when referring to an ongoing action or a habitual situation, especially in informal speech, often when someone is harming themselves indirectly (like starving).
A simplified cartoon person extinguishing a small, friendly campfire with a water hose, illustrating the action of ending something.

Examples

Si no comes, te matas de hambre.

If you don't eat, you are killing yourself with hunger.

¿Por qué no comes? ¡Te matas de hambre!

Why don't you eat? You are starving yourself (killing yourself with hunger)!

Si no estudias, matas la oportunidad de ir a la universidad.

If you don't study, you kill (destroy) the opportunity to go to university.

The 'Tú' Form

This form is what you use when talking directly to one person you know well, like a friend or family member, in the present moment.

mates

/MAH-tehs//ˈma.tes/

verbA2figurative
Use 'mates' when referring to a potential future consequence or a figurative situation where something will cause distress or 'kill' someone with an emotion, like nerves.
A stylized hand reaching out to firmly pinch and extinguish a small, yellow candle flame between two fingers, symbolizing ending or killing.

Examples

El examen te mates de nervios.

The exam will kill you with nerves.

Si no estudias, el examen te mates de nervios.

If you don't study, the exam will kill you with nerves. (Figurative)

¡No mates la conversación con ese comentario!

Don't kill the conversation with that comment! (Informal imperative)

Two 'Tú' Forms

The word 'mates' is used for the 'you' (tú) form in two ways: describing what you currently do ('tú mates' in the present indicative) and for wishes/uncertainty ('que tú mates' in the present subjunctive).

Distinguishing 'matas' from 'mates'

Learners often confuse 'matas' and 'mates' because both are forms of 'matar'. Remember that 'matas' usually describes a present, ongoing, or habitual action, often self-inflicted, while 'mates' is typically used for future, figurative, or hypothetical situations causing distress.

Related Translations

Learn Spanish with Inklingo

Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.