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ellos mataban

were killing, used to kill, were killing time

→ matar
mat to kill + aban 3rd-person plural imperfect
verb · 3rd-person plural, imperfect tense Rare #41,077
were killing, used to kill The form can describe an ongoing or repeated action in the past.
SP: Los soldados mataban animales para comer.
EN: The soldiers were killing animals to eat.
were killing time In the expression matar el tiempo, it means to pass the time.
SP: Mataban el tiempo hablando.
EN: They were passing the time by talking.
Conjugation of matar
Indicative imperfect
SingularPlural
First mataba —
Third mataba mataban
Subjunctive imperfect
SingularPlural
First mataba —
Third mataba mataban

¿Dice que ustedes mataban recién nacidos con problemas?

Does it say that you used to kill newborns with problems?

— Legado en los huesos (2019)

Viste como mataban a tus compatriotas.

You saw your fellow countrymen being killed.

— Ip Man (2008)

Si los dejaran mezclarse, los desgraciados se mataban.

If they were allowed to mix, the wretches would kill each other.

— Tropa de Élite 2 (2010)

Mataban el tiempo jugando a las cartas.

They killed time playing cards.

Entonces vi cómo mataban a los cerdos con un punzón.

Then I saw how they killed the pigs with a spike.

— The Chaser (2008)

¿De cuántas formas mataban a las personas?

How many ways did they kill people?

— Nuremberg: El Juicio Del Siglo (2025)