marcha atrás
/maɾt͡ʃa atɾas/from spelling rules
The English phrase "pull out game" is translated into Spanish as marcha atrás.
marcha atrás refers to the method of contraception where a man withdraws his penis from the vagina before ejaculation.
How do you pronounce it?
/maɾtʃa atɾas/
Did you know?
- The term marcha atrás is also the standard Spanish term for 'reverse gear' in an automobile.
- The word atrás in this phrase is a linguistic relative of the English word 'trans', specifically coming from the Latin 'trans' meaning 'beyond'.
- While marcha atrás is common, the phrase coitus interruptus is frequently used in Spanish medical and educational contexts to describe the same practice.
Example conversation
A couple is discussing birth control during an intimate moment.
- María¿Vas a usar la marcha atrás?Are you going to use the pull out game?
- DanielSí, yo me encargo, María.Yes, I'll take care of it, Maria.
- MaríaEs muy arriesgado, Daniel.It's very risky, Daniel.
- DanielLo sé, pero no tenemos condones.I know, but we don't have condoms.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry marcha atrás, 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 atrás, marcha, marcha atrás, CC BY-SA 4.0.
