Want to master “Morir” conjugations fast?

This short audio loop makes it easy to memorize the forms for the Preterite (Past) Tense — just press play.

🔊 Audio plays automatically on a loop – makes memorization easy. While the audio plays, follow the chart below to reinforce what you hear.

Conjugation Chart

“Morir” (to die) in the Preterite (Past) Tense

Learn Faster with Loop-Based Learning

• 🧠 Activates natural language processing in the brain
• 🔄 Makes conjugations feel automatic
• 📝 Reduces mental effort compared to rote memorization
• 💡 Builds fluency through repetition

Unlike traditional methods that rely on memorizing rules and grammar drills, our approach mimics how native speakers naturally acquire language—by hearing patterns repeatedly in context. This activates your brain’s phonological loop, making verb forms feel familiar and automatic.

To learn more about the science behind this technique, read our detailed article: The Neuroscience of Language Learning: How Listening on a Loop Strengthens Your Fluency

Understanding the Preterite (Past) Tense of “Morir”

The preterite of morir is used to express when someone or something died at a specific moment in the past. For example, when you want to say “The plant died last winter” – “La planta murió el invierno pasado.”

This is an o to u stem-changing verb in the preterite tense. The stem change only occurs in the third person singular and plural forms (murió, murieron), while other forms maintain the ‘o’.

How to Use Morir in the Preterite (Past) Tense

The Preterite of morir indicates the moment or fact of death.

To die: Used for stating death, for example Su abuelo murió el año pasado (His grandfather died last year), or Murieron en el accidente (They died in the accident).

To expire/end completely: Describes metaphorical death, for example Murió el proyecto (The project died).

Real Life Examples of Morir in the Preterite (Past) Tense

Su abuelo murió en paz mientras dormía. (His grandfather died peacefully in his sleep.)

Muchas plantas murieron durante la sequía. (Many plants died during the drought.)

El héroe murió salvando a otros. (The hero died saving others.)

Las flores murieron con la primera helada. (The flowers died with the first frost.)

El proyecto murió por falta de fondos. (The project died due to lack of funding.)

Varios pájaros murieron durante el invierno. (Several birds died during the winter.)

La tradición nunca murió en su familia. (The tradition never died in their family.)

Sus esperanzas murieron ese día. (Their hopes died that day.)

El perro murió de vejez. (The dog died of old age.)

Muchos sueños murieron en la crisis. (Many dreams died in the crisis.)

La batería del celular murió en el peor momento. (The cell phone battery died at the worst moment.)

El ruido murió gradualmente. (The noise died gradually.)

La conversación murió de forma incómoda. (The conversation died awkwardly.)

Las llamas murieron lentamente. (The flames died slowly.)

El motor murió en medio del camino. (The engine died in the middle of the road.)

Conjugation Chart with English Translations

Conjugations of Morir (to die) in the Preterite (Past) Tense (Castilian Spanish) with English Translations:

This post covers Castilian Spanish. For Latin American Spanish, click here

Synonyms

The Preterite tense is also known as the Simple Past, Past Simple, Definite Past, Absolute Past, or Past Tense Indicative in English, and as Pretérito Perfecto Simple, Pretérito Indefinido, Pretérito Simple, Pasado Simple, or Pretérito de Indicativo in Spanish.