The word "matarse" is a verb. It is the reflexive form of "matar," which means "to kill."
/mataɾse/
The verb "matarse" literally means "to kill oneself" and is commonly used in contexts relating to suicide or self-inflicted harm. However, it can also be used metaphorically in informal speech to describe putting oneself in a difficult or exhausting situation, such as working excessively hard or expending a great deal of effort. The frequency of use varies; it tends to be used more in oral communication, particularly among younger speakers, due to its informal connotations.
Ella se siente tan abrumada por el trabajo que a veces dice que se quiere matar.
(She feels so overwhelmed by work that sometimes she says she wants to kill herself.)
Si sigues trabajando así sin descansar, te vas a matar.
(If you keep working like that without resting, you are going to kill yourself [figuratively].)
Tuvo un accidente grave porque intentaba matarse al volante.
(He had a severe accident because he was trying to kill himself at the wheel.)
The word "matarse" appears in various idiomatic expressions in Spanish, often related to overexertion or extreme efforts.
Ejemplo: La película era tan divertida que me maté de risa.
(The movie was so funny that I died laughing.)
Matarse por (algo)
(to kill oneself for something)
Ejemplo: Ella se mata por su trabajo, nunca tiene tiempo para descansar.
(She kills herself for her work, she never has time to rest.)
Matarse trabajando
(to work oneself to death)
Ejemplo: No te mates trabajando, la salud es lo primero.
(Don’t work yourself to death, health comes first.)
Matarse en el intento
(to suffer greatly in the attempt)
The verb "matarse" comes from the Latin word "mactare," which means "to cause to die, to kill." The usage of the reflexive form implies a focus on the subject carrying out the action upon themselves.