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morir means to die — a common term in Essential Spanish. Learn how it's used in a real-world example.

📅 Published: November 16, 2025

📘 Essential Spanish

morir

verb • /[mo-REER]/

to die

Example:

Las flores murieron por falta de agua.

The flowers died from lack of water.

🧠 What does morir mean?

The verb 'morir' means 'to die' or 'to pass away'. It is a fundamental verb used to describe the end of life for people, animals, or plants. 'Morir' is an irregular, stem-changing verb (o > ue and o > u in certain tenses and persons). Beyond its literal meaning, it is frequently used in a figurative or hyperbolic sense to express intense feelings, such as in 'morir de hambre' (to be starving) or 'morir de risa' (to die of laughter).

📚 Extra examples

  • El famoso escritor murió en 1999.
    The famous writer died in 1999.
  • Me muero de ganas de ir de vacaciones.
    I'm dying to go on vacation.
  • Las plantas mueren si no reciben suficiente luz solar.
    The plants die if they don't receive enough sunlight.
  • Sin su ayuda, la empresa habría muerto.
    Without their help, the company would have died.
  • Es trágico que tantas personas mueran en accidentes de tráfico.
    It's tragic that so many people die in traffic accidents.

💡 Did You Know?

A common point of confusion for learners is the past participle of 'morir'. It is irregular: 'muerto'. The regular form 'morido' does not exist in standard Spanish. 'Muerto' can be used to form perfect tenses (e.g., 'ha muerto' - he/she has died) or as an adjective meaning 'dead' (e.g., 'el perro está muerto' - the dog is dead).

🔁 Synonyms & opposites of "morir"

Synonyms: fallecer, perecer, expirar, fenecer
Opposites: nacer, vivir, sobrevivir

🔍 See more essential spanish words

❓ FAQ

How do you say 'to die' in Spanish?
The most common and direct translation is 'morir'. A more formal alternative, often used in news or official announcements, is 'fallecer'.
How do you pronounce 'morir' in Spanish?
The pronunciation is moh-REER. The 'o' is short, and the final 'r' is a tapped or lightly rolled sound.
How do you use 'morir' in a sentence?
It is used just like its English counterpart. For example: 'Mi abuelo murió hace cinco años.' (My grandfather died five years ago.)
What is the English translation of 'morir'?
The primary English translation of 'morir' is 'to die'.
Does 'morir' change for gender or number?
As a verb, 'morir' conjugates to agree with the subject in person and number (e.g., 'yo muero', 'ellos mueren'), but it does not change for gender. The related past participle 'muerto'/'muerta' acts as an adjective and must agree in gender and number with the noun it describes.
Is 'morir' common in everyday Spanish?
Yes, 'morir' is a very common and essential verb in Spanish, used in both literal contexts about death and in many common figurative expressions.
Does 'morir' have slang or double meanings?
Yes, 'morir' is frequently used hyperbolically. Common expressions include 'morirse de frío' (to be freezing cold), 'morirse de aburrimiento' (to be bored to death), and 'morirse por alguien' (to be crazy about someone).
Is 'morir' used differently in Spain vs Latin America?
The core meaning and common figurative uses of 'morir' are consistent across the Spanish-speaking world. There are no significant differences in its standard usage between Spain and Latin America.
How do you conjugate 'morir' in Spanish?
'Morir' is an irregular -ir verb with stem changes. In the present indicative, the 'o' changes to 'ue' (yo muero, tú mueres, él muere). In the preterite third person, it changes to 'u' (él murió, ellos murieron).

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