Asesinar Conjugation in Spanish
The Spanish verb asesinar means to murder, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Asesinar means to murder, to kill someone deliberately. It is a formal verb used in law, crime news and history, and it is fully regular. It is stronger and more specific than matar. Like every Spanish verb, asesinar changes its ending for each person and tense, and this page gives you the complete picture: every tense, every person, the gerund and the past participle, all from the verified conjugation tables. For example, in the present tense you say asesino a su rival por venganza, and in the preterite you say asesiné a sangre fría en la novela. Work through the tables below, read the notes for each tense, and then test yourself with the examples, the common mistakes and the quiz at the end of the page.
Quick facts
- Infinitive: asesinar
- English: to murder
- Verb type: regular -ar verb
- Ending: -ar
- Gerund: asesinando
- Past participle: asesinado
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + asesinado)
Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for asesinar, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Asesinar is fully regular: asesino, asesina. It is deliberate murder; matar is the general word for killing.
Full conjugation tables
Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for asesinar. The imperfect subjunctive is shown in its -ra forms; the -se forms use the same stem. For reflexive verbs, the pronoun column shows the reflexive pronoun that goes before each form.
Present indicative
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | asesino |
| tú | asesinas |
| él/ella/Ud. | asesina |
| nosotros/as | asesinamos |
| vosotros/as | asesináis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | asesinan |
Preterite
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | asesiné |
| tú | asesinaste |
| él/ella/Ud. | asesinó |
| nosotros/as | asesinamos |
| vosotros/as | asesinasteis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | asesinaron |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | asesinaba |
| tú | asesinabas |
| él/ella/Ud. | asesinaba |
| nosotros/as | asesinábamos |
| vosotros/as | asesinabais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | asesinaban |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | asesinaré |
| tú | asesinarás |
| él/ella/Ud. | asesinará |
| nosotros/as | asesinaremos |
| vosotros/as | asesinaréis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | asesinarán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | asesinaría |
| tú | asesinarías |
| él/ella/Ud. | asesinaría |
| nosotros/as | asesinaríamos |
| vosotros/as | asesinaríais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | asesinarían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he asesinado |
| tú | has asesinado |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha asesinado |
| nosotros/as | hemos asesinado |
| vosotros/as | habéis asesinado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han asesinado |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había asesinado |
| tú | habías asesinado |
| él/ella/Ud. | había asesinado |
| nosotros/as | habíamos asesinado |
| vosotros/as | habíais asesinado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían asesinado |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré asesinado |
| tú | habrás asesinado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá asesinado |
| nosotros/as | habremos asesinado |
| vosotros/as | habréis asesinado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán asesinado |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría asesinado |
| tú | habrías asesinado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría asesinado |
| nosotros/as | habríamos asesinado |
| vosotros/as | habríais asesinado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían asesinado |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | asesine |
| tú | asesines |
| él/ella/Ud. | asesine |
| nosotros/as | asesinemos |
| vosotros/as | asesinéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | asesinen |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | asesinara |
| tú | asesinaras |
| él/ella/Ud. | asesinara |
| nosotros/as | asesináramos |
| vosotros/as | asesinarais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | asesinaran |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | asesina |
| él/ella/Ud. | asesine |
| nosotros/as | asesinemos |
| vosotros/as | asesinad |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | asesinen |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | asesines |
| él/ella/Ud. | asesine |
| nosotros/as | asesinemos |
| vosotros/as | asesinéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | asesinen |
Gerund and past participle
| Form | Spanish | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Gerund | asesinando | with estar for the progressive: estoy asesinando |
| Past participle | asesinado | with haber for the perfect tenses: he asesinado |
How to use each tense
Present indicative
Use the present for routines, general facts and what is happening right now. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For asesinar, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Asesino a su rival por venganza. Learn the present forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Preterite
Use the preterite for finished actions with a clear end, often with ayer, el año pasado or anoche. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For asesinar, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, asesiné al presidente en un atentado. Learn the preterite forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Imperfect
Use the imperfect for background, habits and actions in progress in the past, often with de niño, antes or mientras. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For asesinar, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, asesinaba a sangre fría en la novela. Learn the imperfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Future
Use the future for plans, predictions and promises, often with mañana, el año que viene or pronto. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For asesinar, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, asesinaré al testigo antes del juicio. Learn the future forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Conditional
Use the conditional for polite requests, hypotheticals and what would happen, often with si clauses. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For asesinar, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Asesinaría a su rival por venganza si pudiera. Learn the conditional forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Present perfect
Use the present perfect for recent actions and experiences, often with hoy, esta semana or ya. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For asesinar, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he asesinado al presidente en un atentado. Learn the present perfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Pluperfect
Use the pluperfect when one past action happened before another past action. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For asesinar, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había asesinado a sangre fría en la novela antes de salir. Learn the pluperfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Future perfect
Use the future perfect for something that will already be finished by a future time. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For asesinar, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré asesinado al testigo antes del juicio. Learn the future perfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Conditional perfect
Use the conditional perfect for what would have happened under different conditions. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For asesinar, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría asesinado a su rival por venganza con más tiempo. Learn the conditional perfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Present subjunctive
Use the present subjunctive after expressions of wish, doubt, emotion and hope, such as espero que or quiero que. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For asesinar, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él asesine al presidente en un atentado. Learn the present subjunctive forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
Use the imperfect subjunctive after past wishes and in si clauses about the past, and note the -ra forms shown here; the -se forms use the same stem. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For asesinar, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él asesinara a sangre fría en la novela, todo cambiaría. Learn the imperfect subjunctive forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Imperative (affirmative)
Use the affirmative imperative for direct commands, instructions and invitations. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For asesinar, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡Asesina al testigo antes del juicio! Learn the affirmative imperative forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Imperative (negative)
Use the negative imperative, always with no, to tell someone not to do something. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For asesinar, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No asesines a su rival por venganza. Learn the negative imperative forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Example sentences
Ten natural sentences with asesinar, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.
- Asesino a su rival por venganza. — I murder his rival out of revenge.
- Asesina al presidente en un atentado. — He/she murders the president in an attack.
- Ayer, asesiné a sangre fría en la novela. — Yesterday, I murdered in cold blood in the novel.
- Antes, nosotros asesinábamos al testigo antes del juicio. — Before, we used to murder the witness before the trial.
- Mañana, tú asesinarás a su rival por venganza. — Tomorrow, you will murder his rival out of revenge.
- Yo asesinaría al presidente en un atentado si tuviera más tiempo. — I would murder the president in an attack if I had more time.
- Él ha asesinado a sangre fría en la novela. — He has murdered in cold blood in the novel.
- Espero que él asesine al testigo antes del juicio. — I hope he murders the witness before the trial.
- Yo ya había asesinado a su rival por venganza antes de salir. — I had already murdered his rival out of revenge before leaving.
- Ellos asesinaban al presidente en un atentado cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to murder the president in an attack when they were young.
Common mistakes
- Wrong: Yo asesina a su rival por venganza. — Right: Yo asesino a su rival por venganza. — The person matters: asesina is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is asesino. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
- Wrong: Ayer yo asesino al presidente en un atentado. — Right: Ayer yo asesiné al presidente en un atentado. — The present and the preterite are different tenses: asesino is happening now, while asesiné is a finished action in the past. Use the preterite with ayer.
- Wrong: Treating asesinar and matar as identical in every context. — Right: Asesinar means to murder, while matar means to kill, in general. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: asesinar fits sentences such as Asesino a su rival por venganza, while matar belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
- Wrong: Yo soy asesinado al presidente en un atentado. — Right: Yo he asesinado al presidente en un atentado. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he asesinado, has asesinado, ha asesinado. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
- Wrong: De niño, yo asesiné a sangre fría en la novela todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo asesinaba a sangre fría en la novela todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (asesinaba), not the preterite. The preterite (asesiné) is for one finished action.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on asesinar. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ a su rival por venganza. (present tense) A. asesino B. asesinas C. asesina D. asesinamos
Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ al presidente en un atentado. (preterite) A. asesiné B. asesinaste C. asesinaron D. asesinó
Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ a sangre fría en la novela. (imperfect) A. asesinabas B. asesinaban C. asesinábamos D. asesinaba
Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ al testigo antes del juicio. (future) A. asesinaremos B. asesinarás C. asesinaré D. asesinará
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ a su rival por venganza si pudiera. (conditional) A. asesinaría B. asesinarías C. asesinarían D. asesino
Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ al presidente en un atentado. (present subjunctive) A. asesines B. asesinemos C. asesino D. asesine
Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ a sangre fría en la novela, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. asesináramos B. asesino C. asesinara D. asesinaras
Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ al testigo antes del juicio. (present perfect) A. han asesinado B. hemos asesinado C. he asesinado D. has asesinado
Complete the command: ¡___ a su rival por venganza! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. asesina B. asesine C. asesinemos D. asesinad
Which is the gerund of asesinar, used with estar for the progressive? A. asesinado B. asesino C. asesiné D. asesinando
Answer key
- asesino — The first-person present of asesinar is asesino. The other options are the tú, él/ella and nosotros forms.
- asesinó — The third-person preterite of asesinar is asesinó, the form for a single finished action in the past.
- asesinábamos — The nosotros imperfect of asesinar is asesinábamos, used here for a repeated past habit.
- asesinarás — The second-person future of asesinar is asesinarás.
- asesinaría — The first-person conditional of asesinar is asesinaría, the form for what would happen.
- asesine — After espero que, the subjunctive is required: the third-person present subjunctive of asesinar is asesine.
- asesinara — The first-person imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of asesinar is asesinara.
- hemos asesinado — The nosotros present perfect of asesinar is hemos asesinado: hemos + asesinado.
- asesina — The affirmative tú imperative of asesinar is asesina.
- asesinando — The gerund of asesinar is asesinando: estoy asesinando. The participle asesinado is used with haber instead.
Frequently asked questions
What does asesinar mean in English?
Asesinar means to murder. It is used in everyday situations such as Asesino a su rival por venganza. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.
Is asesinar regular or irregular?
Asesinar is a fully regular -ar verb, so every tense follows the standard endings for its class. Once you know the regular pattern, you can produce every form on this page, including asesino in the present and asesiné in the preterite.
What is the difference between asesinar and matar?
Asesinar means to murder, while matar means to kill, in general. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use asesinar when you mean to murder, as in Asesino a su rival por venganza, and use matar for to kill, in general. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.
How do I say “I murder” in the past?
It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo asesiné al presidente en un atentado. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo asesinaba a sangre fría en la novela. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he asesinado al presidente en un atentado.
How do I practise asesinar?
Start with the present tense table, then drill the preterite and the imperfect, since those two past tenses cause the most mistakes. Try the asesinar examples and quiz page for more sentences, and use the Spanish Verb Quiz to test the forms under pressure.
Related links
- Asesinar in the present tense — the full present-tense table for asesinar.
- Asesinar examples and quiz — more example sentences and practice for asesinar.
- Spanish verbs — the Spanish hub, with every verb and tense guide.
- Asesorar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with asesinar.
- Asentar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with asesinar.
- Asimilar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with asesinar.
- Spanish Verb Conjugator — conjugate any Spanish verb in every tense.
- Spanish Verb Quiz — test yourself on real conjugated forms.