emboscada
/embosˈkada/feminine
The English word "ambush" is translated into Spanish as emboscada.
When describing the act of being caught in such an attack, Spanish speakers typically use the phrase caer en una emboscada, which literally means to fall into an ambush. If you want to describe the action of performing an ambush or waylaying someone, you use the related verb emboscar.
Meaning: attack (noun)
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
emboscada is a feminine noun, so it is used with the feminine article la (e.g., la emboscada) rather than the masculine el. The plural form of the word is emboscadas.
How do you pronounce it?
/embosˈkada/
Did you know?
- The word emboscada shares a common root with the English word 'bush', as both stem from the concept of hiding or thicket-like surroundings.
- The term emboscada is often used in Spanish sports commentary to describe a team that lures an opponent into a false sense of security before launching a sudden, coordinated counter-attack.
- Journalists in Spanish-speaking countries sometimes use emboscada to describe a 'media trap'. This occurs when a person is caught by a group of reporters who have staged a sudden, unexpected confrontation for an interview.
Examples in context
- Cayó en una emboscada.He was caught in an ambush.This sentence shows how to use emboscada when someone is caught in an ambush.Tatoeba #2055593 by Shishir, translation #2040233 by halfb1t
- Tom explicó como sería la emboscada.Tom explained how the ambush would work.This sentence uses emboscada to describe the planning or nature of an ambush.Tatoeba #1410158 by marcelostockle, translation #1094160 by CK
- Engañaron al enemigo para que cayese en su emboscada.They tricked the enemy so he'd fall into their ambush.This sentence demonstrates how an enemy might be tricked into falling into an emboscada.Tatoeba #11460928 by arh, translation #11462977 by DJ_Saidez
- Las tropas enemigas cayeron en una emboscada hábilmente preparada.The enemy troops fell into a skillfully prepared ambush.
- Nunca vi a nadie tan pillado por sorpresa como él en aquella emboscada.I've never seen anyone as caught off guard as him in that ambush.
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucía and Daniel are discussing a scene from a movie they just watched.
- Lucía¿Viste la emboscada en la película?Did you see the ambush in the movie?
- DanielSí, fue una escena increíble.Yes, it was an incredible scene.
- LucíaDaniel, el protagonista casi muere.Daniel, the protagonist almost died.
- DanielFue por culpa de la emboscada.It was because of the ambush.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “ambush” translations and entries emboscada, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries emboscada, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
