morir is a Spanish verb meaning "to die." It is an essential, emotionally charged word used to express the end of life or the cessation of something. As a verb that describes a fundamental aspect of the human experience, morir appears in literature, conversation, news, philosophy, and more. It also functions metaphorically to describe the end of non-living things (e.g., a trend, a machine). Because it is an irregular verb, learning its conjugation patterns is crucial for proper usage.
- Meaning: to die
- Type: Regular in some forms, irregular stem change in others (o → ue)
- Usage: Describes death (literal), and also used metaphorically (e.g., a battery dying)
- Root: mor- (shared with words about death: mortal, mortaja)
- Category: Important for expressing endings, both literal and figurative
Morir means 'to die.'
'morir' is an irregular verb because it has a stem change.
Conjugation Highlights
Morir is a stem-changing verb (o → ue) in most present tense forms, as well as in the subjunctive and imperative. It is regular in the preterite except for the lack of stem change, and uses the regular -ir endings.
| Tense | Example (yo) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Infinitive | morir | to die |
| Present | muero | Stem change (o→ue): muero, mueres... |
| Preterite | morí | Regular -ir endings, no stem change |
| Imperfect | moría | Regular (-ir) endings, no stem change |
| Future | moriré | Regular endings |
| Conditional | moriría | Regular endings |
| Present Subj. | muera | Stem change like present (o→ue) |
| Imperative | muere | (+) muere/, (–) no mueras |
The stem for 'morir' changes from o to ue in the present tense.
Present Tense
The present tense is used for current, habitual actions or near-future events.
| Person | Morir (present) | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | muero | I die / am dying |
| Tú | mueres | You die |
| Él/Ella/Ud. | muere | He/She/You die |
| Nosotros | morimos | We die |
| Vosotros | morís | You all die |
| Ellos/Ellas/Uds. | mueren | They die |
They die = mueren.
Preterite Tense
Used for completed actions in the past.
| Person | Morir (preterite) | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | morí | I died |
| Tú | moriste | You died |
| Él/Ella/Ud. | murió | He/She/You died |
| Nosotros | morimos | We died |
| Vosotros | moristeis | You all died |
| Ellos/Ellas/Uds. | murieron | They died |
'morir' does not have a stem change in the preterite.
Imperfect Tense
Expresses ongoing, repeated, or background actions in the past.
| Person | Morir (imperfect) | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | moría | I was dying / I died (repeated) |
| Tú | morías | You were dying |
| Él/Ella/Ud. | moría | He/She/You was/were dying |
| Nosotros | moríamos | We were dying |
| Vosotros | moríais | You all were dying |
| Ellos/Ellas/Uds. | morían | They were dying |
Future Tense
| Person | Morir (future) | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | moriré | I will die |
| Tú | morirás | You will die |
| Él/Ella/Ud. | morirá | He/She/You will die |
| Nosotros | moriremos | We will die |
| Vosotros | moriréis | You all will die |
| Ellos/Ellas/Uds. | morirán | They will die |
Sample Sentences
- Los soldados morían en la batalla. (Imperfect)
- Ella murió joven. (Preterite)
- ¿Cuándo moriremos? (Future)
- El amor nunca muere. (Present)
- Si no comes, morirás de hambre. (Future/Conditional - joke)
The correct form is 'murieron.'
The correct form is 'morimos' (without stem change).
'morir' expresses literal death and can also be used metaphorically for endings.
Conclusion
Morir is a vital verb for expressing endings and transformations in Spanish. Its irregular stem change and full set of conjugations make it essential for learners to master.
- Meaning: to die
- Conjugation: O→UE stem change in present, subjunctive, imperative; regular -ir forms in preterite and others
- Usage: Both literal (death) and metaphorical (things ending)
'morir' is the infinitive for 'to die.'
The stem change applies in the present, subjunctive, and imperative.
She died = Murió.