Spanish Conversation · Level 15
87 words
Spanish word
ahogar
Pronunciation
IPA/aoˈɣaɾ/
Meaning
- verbdrown
Example
La ola ahogó a varios bañistas.
The wave drowned several swimmers.
More examples
El humo espeso puede ahogar a las personas.
Thick smoke can suffocate people.
Core concept
Person submerged under water, unable to breathe.
Common phrases
ahogar a alguien
drown someone
ahogar con humo
suffocate with smoke
ahogar en el agua
drown in water
Similar words
sumergir: Puts an object or person into water, fully or partly submerged.
hundir: Drives an object downward so it goes beneath the water's surface or sinks.
asfixiar: Prevents breathing by cutting off airflow or by exposure to smoke or toxic gas.
Definition in Spanish
Significa sumergir a alguien en agua o privarlo de aire hasta impedirle respirar, y por extensión usar en sentido figurado para indicar que algo abruma.
Word origin
From medieval Spanish afogar, originally meaning to stifle or plunge under and later fixed as the modern transitive verb ahogar.
Usage tips
- Commonly used both literally to drown and figuratively to mean overwhelm, and when the cause of breath loss is smoke, tight wrapping, or gases Spanish often prefers asfixiar or sofocar instead.