Spanish Conversation · Level 128
60 words
Spanish word
atasco
Pronunciation
IPA/aˈtasko/
Meaning
- masculine nountraffic jam
Example
Hay un atasco en la autopista.
There is a traffic jam on the highway.
More examples
El atasco empezó por un vehículo averiado.
The traffic jam started because of a broken-down vehicle.
Core concept
A dense, slow-moving queue of cars stretching for miles on a motorway.
Common phrases
atasco de tráfico
traffic jam
atasco en la carretera
traffic jam on the road
atasco en hora punta
rush-hour traffic jam
Similar words
embotellamiento: Complete stop or very slow advance caused by tightly packed lines of cars.
congestión: Widespread slowing of vehicle flow due to increased traffic volume.
retención: Long-lasting hold-up on the road where vehicles are kept waiting.
tapón: Localized road blockage that makes a lane or section impassable.
Definition in Spanish
Interrupción o ralentización del tránsito en calles, carreteras o autopistas debida a la acumulación de vehículos.
Word origin
Derived from the verb 'atascar' plus the nominal suffix -o, literally naming the result of vehicles being blocked or slowed.
Usage tips
- Common collocations are 'hay un atasco' to report a jam and 'se formó un atasco' to say a jam formed, and the noun is masculine: el/un atasco.