ataque
/aˈtake/masculine
The English word "attack" is translated into Spanish as ataque.
ataque is a noun used to describe an attempt to cause damage, injury or death. When describing sudden medical episodes, you can use the construction ataque de [noun], such as ataque de asma (asthma attack). The related verb atacar means to attack, and it can also be used in a sports context, such as moving forward in soccer to attempt to score a point or to describe aggressively challenging someone with words.
Meaning: attempt to cause damage, injury, or death (noun)
Which one should you use?
While ataque is the standard noun, embestida is used specifically for a physical attack involving a charge, such as an animal or a person charging at someone. Agresión is used in formal contexts to refer to an attack and carries a stronger connotation of intentional harm.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
ataque is a masculine noun and is used with masculine articles such as el or un.
How do you pronounce it?
/aˈtake/
Did you know?
- The verb atacar can be used in a culinary sense to describe starting to eat a meal with great enthusiasm, such as atacar la cena.
- In certain regional dialects, a sudden, overwhelming feeling of anger might be described as a patatús, a slang term that is much less formal than ataque de nervios.
- The word ataque shares a distant linguistic ancestor with the English word 'stick', through the Proto-Indo-European root *(s)teyg-, which relates to the idea of piercing or poking.
Examples in context
- Se impidió el ataque.The attack was foiled.This sentence shows how to use ataque to describe a foiled attack.Tatoeba #5748566 by arh, translation #5748175 by CM
- Tuve un ataque de asma.I had an asthma attack.This sentence demonstrates using ataque to describe a medical asthma attack.Tatoeba #527218 by Shishir, translation #326617 by CK
- Me dio un ataque al corazón.I had a heart attack.This sentence illustrates the use of ataque when describing a heart attack.Tatoeba #10696324 by Shishir, translation #269006 by CK
- El ejército lanzó un ataque sorpresaThe army launched a surprise attack.
- El toro hizo una embestida contra el matadorThe bull made a charge at the matador.
- La agresión hacia el pueblo fue inaceptableThe attack on the village was unacceptable.
- El perro me atacó en el parqueThe dog attacked me in the park.
- El equipo local le dio duro al equipo visitanteThe home team attacked the visiting team relentlessly.
- La tormenta arremetió contra la costaThe storm attacked the coast.
- Los ladrones asaltaron el bancoThe thieves attacked the bank.
- 59 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucía and Mateo are discussing a news report about a crime.
- LucíaEl ataque fue muy violento.The attack was very violent.
- MateoSí, la policía investiga el ataque.Yes, the police are investigating the attack.
- LucíaEspero que los testigos estén bien.I hope the witnesses are okay.
- MateoOjalá que no haya más peligro.I hope there is no more danger.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “attack” translations and entries ataque, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ataque, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
