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matar

to kill

verb mah-TAHR Less Common
Body & Health Health & Illness

Usage Note

Matar is used literally and figuratively: me mata el calor (the heat is killing me). The reflexive matarse can mean to kill oneself or, colloquially, to work extremely hard: se mató estudiando (he worked himself to death studying). A matar can express strong dislike.

Examples

"El frío puede matar las plantas."

Natural Translation

The cold can kill the plants.

Literal Translation

The cold can to-kill the plants

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