Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| chocar | /t͡ʃoˈkaɾ/ |
| colisionar | /kolisjoˈnaɾ/ |
| colidir | /koliˈdiɾ/ |
These verbs describe making a direct, often violent, impact. When you want to say that an object is colliding with another, you should use the preposition con after the verb, such as chocar con un árbol (to collide with a tree).
Which one should you use?
The forms differ based on whether the impact is physical or abstract and the level of formality required. chocar is the most common, everyday way to say 'to collide' or 'to crash' and is used for both physical objects and people. colisionar is a more formal or technical term, frequently seen in news reports or official descriptions of accidents. colidir is often used in an abstract sense to describe a collision of ideas, interests or principles.
How does it change in a sentence?
The third-person singular preterite (past tense) of chocar is chocó (he/she/it collided). The word choque is the noun form, meaning a crash or a collision.
How do you pronounce it?
/tʃoˈkaɾ/
Did you know?
- While chocar usually describes an accident, the expression chocar las copas refers to the celebratory act of clinking glasses during a toast.
- In certain parts of Latin America, you might use chocar to describe a person's attitude rather than a physical accident. If someone says 'me choca tu actitud', they are not describing a crash, but rather that your behavior is extremely irritating to them.
- The English word 'shock' and the Spanish verb chocar share a common linguistic ancestor, both tracing back to the idea of a sudden striking or hitting.
Examples in context
- El auto chocó contra el árbol.The car collided with the tree.
- Los dos aviones colisionaron en pleno aire.The two airplanes collided in mid-air.
- Los jugadores se dieron un golpe fuerte en el partido.The players had a strong collision during the match.
- El coche va a chocar con el muro.The car is going to collide with the wall.
Example conversation
Sofía and Mateo are discussing a car accident they saw on the news.
- Sofía¿Viste cómo chocaron los dos autos?Did you see how the two cars collided?
- MateoSí, fue un choque muy fuerte.Yes, it was a very strong collision.
- SofíaEspero que nadie haya salido herido.I hope no one was hurt.
- MateoNo lo sé, fue un accidente terrible.I don't know, it was a terrible accident.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “collide” translations and entries chocar, colisionar, colidir, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries chocar, colidir, colisionar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
