Spanish Conversation · Level 11
90 words
Spanish word
ataque
Pronunciation
IPA/aˈtake/
Meaning
- masculine nounattack
Example
El ejército lanzó un ataque al amanecer.
The army launched an attack at dawn.
More examples
Sufrió un ataque de pánico durante la reunión.
Someone suffered a panic attack during the meeting.
Core concept
A concentrated aggressive action directed at a target to harm, defeat, or seize it.
Common phrases
ataque de pánico
panic attack
ataque cardíaco
heart attack
Similar words
agresión: Deliberate violent act that causes physical harm or injury to another person.
asalto: Brief, forceful attack involving a sudden rush to overpower, rob, or assault someone.
ofensiva: Planned series of coordinated attacks or operations mounted to achieve military aims.
embestida: Powerful charging motion that thrusts into a target with momentum and impact.
Definition in Spanish
Golpe, acción o conjunto de acciones dirigidas a dañar, vencer o dominar a un objetivo; también se usa para nombrar episodios súbitos de una enfermedad.
Word origin
It is derived from the verb atacar and ultimately from medieval Romance (via Old French and Italian), formed from Latin ad- plus a root meaning 'attach', and its sense now denotes 'assault'.
Usage tips
- Because ataque covers both violent strikes and sudden medical episodes, speakers commonly add a modifier such as ataque terrorista, ataque cardíaco, or ataque de pánico to make the meaning clear.