atropello y fuga
/atɾopeʝo i fuɡa/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'hit and run' is translated into Spanish as atropello y fuga.
This noun phrase is used to describe the specific criminal act of a vehicle collision followed by the driver fleeing the scene.
Meaning: the crime of causing an accident and leaving (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of atropello (run over/collision) and fuga (flight/escape).
Which one should you use?
If you need to express the action as a verb, use atropellar y fugarse.
How do you pronounce it?
/atɾopeʝo i fuɡa/
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking legal contexts, the term atropello can also be used metaphorically to describe an 'outrage' or an 'abuse' of power, much like how an 'assault' can be used figuratively in English.
- The word atropello comes from tropel, which originally referred to a confused crowd or a stampede. It implies a sense of chaotic, overwhelming movement rather than a simple collision.
- In Spanish, you can use atropellar to describe something moving too fast and colliding with something else, even if it is not a car, such as a crowd of people rushing through a door.
Examples in context
- El informe policial describe el incidente como un accidente de tráfico con fuga.The police report describes the incident as a hit and run.
- La policía investiga el atropello y fuga.The police are investigating the hit and run.
Example conversation
Javier and Sofía are talking about a news report in a cafe.
- Javier¿Viste la noticia del atropello y fuga?Did you see the news about the hit and run?
- SofíaSí, es terrible lo que le pasó a esa mujer.Yes, what happened to that woman is terrible.
- JavierEl culpable sigue libre.The culprit is still free.
- SofíaEspero que lo atrapen pronto.I hope they catch him soon.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
