parachoques
/paɾaˈt͡ʃokes/
The English phrase 'car bumper' is translated into Spanish as parachoques.
A parachoques is the bar attached to the front and back of a vehicle to protect it during low-speed collisions.
What does it mean word for word?
The word is a compound of the verb parar (to stop) and choques (collisions or shocks), literally meaning 'stops shocks'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, the word defensa is commonly used to refer to a bumper. In the Southern Cone, specifically Argentina and Uruguay, paragolpes is the standard term.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word parachoques is invariable in number. It remains the same whether you are referring to one bumper or multiple bumpers.
How do you pronounce it?
/paɾaˈtʃokes/
Did you know?
- While parachoques describes the car part, the word choque is also used to describe an electric shock, known as a choque eléctrico.
- The term paragolpes used in Argentina and Uruguay uses golpes, a word that can also refer to physical blows or hits in a fight.
- The word parachoques is a linguistic 'cousin' to the French term pare-choc, as both languages constructed the word by combining a verb for 'stopping' with a noun for 'collision'.
Examples in context
- El parachoques absorbió parte del impacto.The car bumper absorbed some of the impact.This sentence demonstrates how a parachoques might function during an impact.Tatoeba #10314658 by Seael, translation #34931 by CM
- El parachoques del coche está dañado.The car bumper is damaged.
- Necesitaremos reemplazar la defensa del vehículo.We'll need to replace the car bumper.
- El paragolpes del auto está rayado.The car bumper is scratched.
- Sus defensas están abolladas.Their car bumpers are dented.
- El parachoques delantero está un poco rayado.The front bumper is a little scratched.
- Necesito cambiar el parachoques de mi coche.I need to change my car's bumper.
Example conversation
Lucía and Alejandro are inspecting his car after a small accident.
- Lucía¿Qué le pasó a tu coche, Alejandro?What happened to your car, Alejandro?
- AlejandroGolpeé un poste y se rompió el parachoques.I hit a pole and the bumper broke.
- LucíaMenos mal que el parachoques protegió la carrocería.Luckily the bumper protected the bodywork.
- AlejandroSí, pero ahora tengo que ir al taller.Yes, but now I have to go to the workshop.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry parachoques, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries parachoques, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
