/maˈtaɾ/

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Translation

to kill

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Word origin

Origin debated. The competing accounts agree it is of Latin descent but differ on the precise etymon.

Origin
Latin
Root
uncertain

Other proposed origins

  • Often traced to Late Latin mactare ('to slaughter, to sacrifice'). (mactare)
  • Some derive it from a Vulgar Latin verb from Latin mattus ('stupefied, dazed'), in the sense of beating senseless. (mattus)

Grammar

Verb type-ar regular

Conjugation

Regular -ar conjugation. Pronouns: yo, tú, él/ella/ud., nos., vos., ellos/uds..

Indicative

Person PresentPreteriteImperfectFutureConditional
yomatomatématabamatarémataría
túmatasmatastematabasmatarásmatarías
él/ella/ud.matamatómatabamatarámataría
nos.matamosmatamosmatábamosmataremosmataríamos
vos.matáismatasteismatabaismataréismataríais
ellos/uds.matanmataronmatabanmataránmatarían

Subjunctive

Person PresentImperfect (-ra)Imperfect (-se)
yomatemataramatase
túmatesmatarasmatases
él/ella/ud.matemataramatase
nos.matemosmatáramosmatásemos
vos.matéismataraismataseis
ellos/uds.matenmataranmatasen

Imperative

Person Affirmative
túmata
ud.mate
nosotrosmatemos
vosotrosmatad
uds.maten

Non-finite

Gerund / present participle
matando
Past participle
matado

Examples

.

Last night's cold nearly killed the plants.

.

Today's work is going to kill me with sleepiness.

.

The novel is about who wanted to kill the detective.

.

The hunter did not want to kill the wounded animal in the forest.

.

This wait is killing my nerves.

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matar: worksheet, infographic and listicle

Free printable study downloads for the Spanish word "matar" (to kill): a worksheet with the answer key built in, an infographic, and a sentence listicle. Open any one to view, print or save.

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This word is taught in chapter 4, lesson 5: matar, acuerdo, nosotros and 6 more words.