Kill in Different Languages: 70 Translations and Examples

The word kill has a serious meaning, but it appears in different contexts across languages, from news reports and books to everyday expressions and figurative phrases. Learning how to say kill in different languages can help you understand translations, explore vocabulary, and recognize how different cultures express the same idea.

In English, kill usually means to cause the death of a person, animal, or living thing. Depending on the context, it can also be used figuratively, as in “kill time,” “kill a conversation,” or “that joke killed me.”

If you are searching for kill in different languages, this guide includes 70 translations organized into regional tables. Each entry provides the native word or phrase, an easy pronunciation guide, and an English example to explain how the word may be used. Some languages use different words depending on whether the context is literal, figurative, formal, or informal.

Quick Reference: Kill in Different Languages

Language	Translation	Easy Pronunciation
Spanish	Matar	mah-TAR
French	Tuer	tweh
German	Töten	TUH-ten
Italian	Uccidere	oot-chee-DEH-reh
Portuguese	Matar	mah-TAR
Russian	Убивать	oo-bee-VAT
Chinese	杀死	shah-sz
Japanese	殺す	koh-roo-soo
Korean	죽이다	joo-gee-da
Arabic	قتل	qa-tal
Hindi	मारना	maar-naa
Urdu	قتل کرنا	qatl karna
Turkish	Öldürmek	ul-dur-mek
Swahili	Kuua	koo-oo-ah
Filipino	Pumatay	poo-mah-tie

European Languages

European languages have different words for kill, and some distinguish between causing death, murdering someone, and killing an animal.

Western and Northern European Languages

Language	Native Translation	Easy Pronunciation	Example in English	English Meaning
Spanish	Matar	mah-TAR	The word means to kill.	To cause death
French	Tuer	tweh	The verb means to kill.	To cause death
German	Töten	TUH-ten	The German word means to kill.	To cause death
Italian	Uccidere	oot-chee-DEH-reh	The verb means to kill.	To cause death
Portuguese	Matar	mah-TAR	The word means to kill.	To cause death
Dutch	Doden	DOH-den	The Dutch verb means to kill.	To cause death
Swedish	Döda	DUH-da	The word means to kill.	To cause death
Norwegian	Drepe	DREH-peh	The Norwegian verb means to kill.	To cause death
Danish	Dræbe	DREH-beh	The word means to kill.	To cause death
Finnish	Tappaa	TAP-paa	The Finnish verb means to kill.	To cause death

Central, Eastern, and Other European Languages

Language	Native Translation	Easy Pronunciation	Example in English	English Meaning
Polish	Zabijać	zah-BEE-yatch	The word can mean to kill.	To cause death
Czech	Zabít	ZAH-beet	The Czech verb means to kill.	To cause death
Slovak	Zabiť	ZAH-beet	The word means to kill.	To cause death
Romanian	A ucide	ah oo-CHEE-deh	The Romanian phrase means to kill.	To cause death
Greek	Σκοτώνω	sko-TOH-no	The Greek verb means to kill.	To cause death
Russian	Убивать	oo-bee-VAT	The Russian word means to kill.	To cause death
Ukrainian	Вбивати	vbee-VAH-ty	The Ukrainian verb means to kill.	To cause death
Bulgarian	Убивам	oo-BEE-vam	The Bulgarian word means to kill.	To cause death
Croatian	Ubiti	OO-bee-tee	The Croatian verb means to kill.	To cause death
Hungarian	Megölni	MEG-uhl-nee	The Hungarian word means to kill.	To cause death

South Asian Languages

South Asian languages often have several expressions for kill, depending on whether the speaker means killing, murdering, or causing someone’s death.

Language	Native Translation	Easy Pronunciation	Example in English	English Meaning
Hindi	मारना	maar-naa	The Hindi word can mean to kill.	To cause death
Urdu	قتل کرنا	qatl karna	The Urdu phrase means to kill.	To cause death
Bengali	হত্যা করা	hot-ta ko-ra	The Bengali phrase means to kill.	To cause death
Punjabi	ਮਾਰਨਾ	maar-naa	The Punjabi word can mean to kill.	To cause death
Tamil	கொல்லுதல்	kol-lu-thal	The Tamil word means to kill.	To cause death
Telugu	చంపడం	cham-pa-dam	The Telugu word means to kill.	To cause death
Kannada	ಕೊಲ್ಲು	kol-lu	The Kannada word means to kill.	To cause death
Malayalam	കൊല്ലുക	kol-lu-ka	The Malayalam word means to kill.	To cause death
Marathi	मारणे	maa-ra-ne	The Marathi word can mean to kill.	To cause death
Gujarati	મારવું	maar-vu	The Gujarati word can mean to kill.	To cause death

East and Southeast Asian Languages

These languages use different writing systems and grammatical structures. The English verb kill may translate into a short word or a longer expression.

Language	Native Translation	Easy Pronunciation	Example in English	English Meaning
Chinese (Mandarin)	杀死	shā-sǐ	The Mandarin expression means to kill.	To cause death
Japanese	殺す	ko-ro-su	The Japanese verb means to kill.	To cause death
Korean	죽이다	ju-gi-da	The Korean verb means to kill.	To cause death
Thai	ฆ่า	khâa	The Thai word means to kill.	To cause death
Vietnamese	Giết	zyət, approximately	The Vietnamese word means to kill.	To cause death
Indonesian	Membunuh	mem-boo-nooh	The Indonesian word means to kill.	To cause death
Malay	Membunuh	mem-boo-nooh	The Malay word means to kill.	To cause death
Filipino (Tagalog)	Pumatay	poo-mah-tie	The Tagalog word means to kill.	To cause death
Burmese	သတ်သည်	that-thi	The Burmese expression means to kill.	To cause death
Khmer	សម្លាប់	som-lap	The Khmer word means to kill.	To cause death

Middle Eastern and Central Asian Languages

Words related to killing can have different levels of formality and seriousness. In some languages, the most natural translation depends strongly on the sentence.

Language	Native Translation	Easy Pronunciation	Example in English	English Meaning
Arabic	قتل	qa-tal	The Arabic verb can mean to kill.	To cause death
Persian (Farsi)	کشتن	kosh-tan	The Persian verb means to kill.	To cause death
Hebrew	להרוג	la-ha-rog	The Hebrew verb means to kill.	To cause death
Turkish	Öldürmek	ul-dur-mek	The Turkish verb means to kill.	To cause death
Armenian	Սպանել	spa-nel	The Armenian verb means to kill.	To cause death
Georgian	მოკვლა	mok-vla	The Georgian word means to kill.	To cause death
Kazakh	Өлтіру	ul-ti-ru	The Kazakh word means to kill.	To cause death
Uzbek	O‘ldirmoq	ul-dir-moq	The Uzbek verb means to kill.	To cause death
Mongolian	Алах	a-lakh	The Mongolian word means to kill.	To cause death
Pashto	وژل	wa-jal	The Pashto word can mean to kill.	To cause death

African Languages

African languages include many distinct linguistic traditions. These examples show how the idea of kill is expressed in several languages from different parts of the continent.

Language	Native Translation	Easy Pronunciation	Example in English	English Meaning
Swahili	Kuua	koo-oo-ah	The Swahili word means to kill.	To cause death
Amharic	መግደል	meg-dehl	The Amharic verb means to kill.	To cause death
Hausa	Kashe	kah-sheh	The Hausa word can mean to kill.	To cause death
Yoruba	Pa	pah	The Yoruba word can mean to kill.	To cause death
Igbo	Igbu	eeg-boo	The Igbo word can mean to kill.	To cause death
Zulu	Bulala	boo-LAH-lah	The Zulu word can mean to kill.	To cause death
Xhosa	Bulala	boo-LAH-lah	The Xhosa word can mean to kill.	To cause death
Afrikaans	Doodmaak	DOHT-mahk	The Afrikaans word means to kill.	To cause death
Somali	Dil	dil	The Somali word can mean to kill.	To cause death
Kinyarwanda	Kwica	kwee-cha	The Kinyarwanda word means to kill.	To cause death

Other Languages Around the World

The following languages come from the Atlantic, Pacific, and other language communities. Some entries are less commonly encountered in translation lists, so the pronunciation guides are approximate.

Language	Native Translation	Easy Pronunciation	Example in English	English Meaning
Haitian Creole	Touye	too-yeh	The Haitian Creole word means to kill.	To cause death
Māori	Patu	pah-too	The Māori word can mean to strike or kill, depending on context.	To cause death or strike
Samoan	Fasioti	fah-see-oh-tee	The Samoan word can refer to killing.	To cause death
Hawaiian	Pepehi	peh-peh-hee	The Hawaiian word can mean to kill.	To cause death
Irish	Marú	mah-ROO	The Irish word means killing or to kill, depending on grammar.	To cause death
Welsh	Lladd	hlath, approximately	The Welsh word can mean to kill.	To cause death
Icelandic	Drepa	DREH-pa	The Icelandic verb means to kill.	To cause death
Esperanto	Mortigi	mor-TEE-gee	The Esperanto word means to kill.	To cause death
Basque	Hil	heel	The Basque word is associated with killing or death, depending on its grammatical use.	To kill or die, depending on form
Catalan	Matar	mah-TAR	The Catalan verb means to kill.	To cause death

How to Use the Word Kill in English

The word kill can have a literal meaning or a figurative meaning. Understanding the context helps you choose the correct translation.

Literal Meaning

In its literal sense, kill means to cause the death of a living being.

Examples:

• The news reported that the animal was killed in an accident.
• The story describes a character who wants to kill the villain.
• The law distinguishes between different circumstances involving a person’s death.

Figurative Meaning

In informal English, kill can be used without referring to a literal death.

Examples:

• Kill time: Do something while waiting.
• Kill a conversation: Make a conversation stop or become awkward.
• Kill the mood: Spoil a pleasant atmosphere.
• You killed it: You performed extremely well.
• That joke killed me: The joke was extremely funny.

These expressions usually need to be translated by meaning rather than word for word. A direct translation may sound unnatural or may suggest literal harm in another language.

Kill vs. Murder: What Is the Difference?

Although kill and murder are related, they are not interchangeable in every situation.

• Kill: A broad verb meaning to cause death. It does not, by itself, explain whether the act was intentional or unlawful.
• Murder: A legal and everyday term generally referring to the unlawful and intentional killing of another person, subject to the relevant jurisdiction’s definition.
• Die: To stop living. This describes what happens to the person or living thing, rather than identifying someone who caused the death.
• Death: The noun describing the end of life.

For example, “The character killed the creature” describes an action. “The character died” describes the end of the character’s life. “Murder” carries a more specific meaning and should not be substituted for kill in every translation.

Common Mistakes When Translating Kill

When learning kill in different languages, keep these points in mind:

• Do not assume every translation is interchangeable. Some words refer specifically to murder, while others can refer to killing animals or causing death more generally.
• Check the grammar. A dictionary may list an infinitive, a root, or a conjugated form. These forms cannot always replace one another in a sentence.
• Consider the context. A word used in a crime report may not be suitable for a joke or casual expression.
• Avoid translating idioms literally. Expressions such as “kill time” usually need a natural equivalent in the target language.
• Use pronunciation guides as a starting point. English spelling cannot represent every sound in another language perfectly.
• Check regional variation. Words and expressions may differ between countries and communities that share a language.

How to Learn Vocabulary in Different Languages

If you are building your multilingual vocabulary, try these simple methods:

• Learn words in context: Study a short sentence rather than memorizing a translation alone.
• Listen to native speakers: Audio pronunciation can help you recognize sounds that written guides cannot explain.
• Compare related words: Learn the difference between kill, murder, die, and death.
• Review regularly: Revisit a few words each day instead of trying to memorize every translation at once.
• Check reliable dictionaries: For sensitive or serious words, confirm the intended meaning and grammatical form before using them.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you say kill in different languages?

The word has different translations around the world. Examples include matar in Spanish, tuer in French, töten in German, убивать in Russian, 殺す in Japanese, قتل کرنا in Urdu, and kuua in Swahili.

What is the Spanish word for kill?

The common Spanish verb is matar. The best translation can depend on the sentence and whether the intended meaning is literal or figurative.

What is the difference between kill and murder?

Kill is a broad word for causing death. Murder usually refers to an unlawful and intentional killing of another person, although its exact legal definition varies by jurisdiction.

Can kill have a figurative meaning?

Yes. English expressions such as “kill time,” “kill the mood,” and “you killed it” are figurative. Their intended meanings are not usually about causing death.

Are these translations suitable for every sentence?

No. These entries are general vocabulary equivalents, not universal substitutions. Grammar, formality, context, and regional usage can change which expression sounds natural. For an important translation, consult a reliable dictionary or a fluent speaker.

Conclusion

Learning kill in different languages is a way to explore vocabulary, pronunciation, and cultural differences. This guide brings together 70 language entries from Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and other regions, with native forms and simple pronunciation guides.

Remember that a word’s meaning depends on context. Literal uses, legal terminology, and figurative expressions may require different translations. When accuracy matters, check how the word works in a complete sentence rather than relying on a single-word equivalent.