Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| infarto | /inˈfaɾto/ | masculine |
| infarto agudo de miocardio | /infaɾto aɡudo de mjokaɾdjo/ (from spelling rules) | |
| ataque cardíaco | /aˌtake kaɾˈdiako/ | masculine |
| ataque al corazón | /atake al koɾaθon/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /atake al koɾason/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
masculine |
| ataque cardiaco | /aˌtake kaɾˈdjako/ | masculine, alternative form |
The term is used to describe an acute myocardial infarction. In Spanish, you often use the verb dar (to give) to express the experience of having a heart attack, such as in the phrase me dio un infarto (literally, 'it gave me a heart attack'). Additionally, the phrase casi me da un infarto is a common figurative expression used to convey that someone experienced extreme shock, surprise or fright.
Which one should you use?
While ataque al corazón is common in conversational speech, infarto is the more standard and precise term used in both medical and everyday contexts. Ataque cardíaco and its alternative spelling ataque cardiaco are also used to mean heart attack.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For technical medical contexts, healthcare professionals use the term infarto agudo de miocardio or the formal term infarto de miocardio. The term crisis cardíaca is also a formal way to refer to a heart attack.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay, infarto is frequently used to refer to a heart attack.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word infarto is a masculine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/inˈfaɾto/
Did you know?
Examples in context
- Murió de un infarto.He died of a heart attack.This sentence shows how to express dying from a heart attack using infarto.Tatoeba #7923383 by arh, translation #299846 by CK
- Casi me dio un infarto.I almost had a heart attack.This sentence demonstrates the figurative use of the phrase to express shock using infarto.Tatoeba #13500860 by Seael, translation #1324381 by Scott
- Tuvo un amago de infarto.He had a mild heart attack.This sentence uses infarto to describe a mild version of the event.Tatoeba #1328527 by Shishir, translation #1328525 by CM
- El paciente sufrió un infarto de miocardio y fue llevado de urgencia al hospital.The patient suffered a heart attack and was urgently taken to the hospital.
- Mi abuelo tuvo un ataque al corazón y ahora debe cuidar su salud.My grandfather had a heart attack and now he has to take care of his health.
- 29 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofía and Alejandro are talking about a family emergency.
- SofíaMi abuelo tuvo un infarto anoche.My grandfather had a heart attack last night.
- AlejandroLo siento mucho, Sofía. ¿Está estable ahora?I am very sorry, Sofía. Is he stable now?
- SofíaSí, los médicos dicen que sobrevivió al infarto.Yes, the doctors say he survived the heart attack.
- AlejandroMe alegra mucho escuchar eso, Alejandro.I am very glad to hear that, Alejandro.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “heart attack” translations and entries infarto, ataque cardíaco, ataque al corazón, ataque cardiaco, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries agudo, ataque, cardíaco, corazón, de, infarto, miocardio, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
