nocaut
/noˈkaut/masculine
The English phrase knockout is translated into Spanish as nocaut.
The term nocaut is used specifically in the context of combat sports like boxing to describe a knockout. It can be used in the phrase ganar por nocaut (to win by knockout). Additionally, the related adjective despampanante can be used to mean stunning, amazing or gorgeous.
Meaning: act of making someone unconscious (noun)
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
To say someone won 'by knockout', use the prepositional phrase por nocaut.
How do you pronounce it?
/noˈkaut/
Did you know?
- Beyond boxing, nocaut is sometimes used metaphorically in Spanish politics or business to describe a decisive, crushing blow that ends an opponent's career.
- The word nocaut is a phonetic adaptation, meaning the Spanish spelling is designed to reflect how the English word sounds to a Spanish speaker rather than how it is actually spelled.
- Despite being a borrowed term, nocaut is treated as a native Spanish noun, meaning it follows Spanish gender and pluralization rules, such as becoming los nocauts.
Examples in context
- El boxeador sufrió un golpe devastador que lo dejó fuera de combateThe boxer suffered a devastating blow that knocked him out
- El luchador recibió un golpe fulminante que lo dejó en el sueloThe fighter received a stunning blow that left him on the ground
- ¡Fue un K.O. impresionante!It was an impressive knockout!
- Fue un nocaut muy rápido.It was a very quick knockout.
- El boxeador consiguió el nocaut en el quinto asalto.The boxer achieved the knockout in the fifth round.
- La pelea terminó con un nocaut espectacular.The fight ended with a spectacular knockout.
Example conversation
Lucía and Javier are watching a boxing match on TV.
- Lucía¡Mira ese golpe! Creo que es nocaut.Look at that punch! I think it's a knockout.
- JavierSí, el otro boxeador no se puede levantar.Yes, the other boxer cannot get up.
- LucíaEl árbitro ya está contando hasta diez.The referee is already counting to ten.
- JavierEs oficial, Javier perdió por nocaut.It's official, Javier lost by knockout.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “knockout” translations and entries nocaut, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries nocaut, CC BY-SA 4.0.
