asaltar
“asaltar” means “to rob” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
to rob, to mug
Also: to hold up
📝 In Action
Lo asaltaron justo cuando salía del banco.
B1They robbed him just as he was leaving the bank.
Es peligroso caminar por esa calle de noche porque te pueden asaltar.
A2It is dangerous to walk down that street at night because you could get mugged.
Dos hombres armados intentaron asaltar la joyería.
B2Two armed men tried to rob the jewelry store.
to strike, to assail
Also: to come over
📝 In Action
Una duda terrible me asaltó antes de firmar el contrato.
C1A terrible doubt struck me before signing the contract.
De repente, lo asaltaron los recuerdos de su infancia.
B2Suddenly, childhood memories came over him.
Al entrar en la casa vacía, me asaltó una gran tristeza.
C1Upon entering the empty house, a great sadness assailed me.
to storm, to raid
Also: to assault
📝 In Action
Las tropas asaltaron la fortaleza al amanecer.
C1The troops stormed the fortress at dawn.
Tengo tanta hambre que voy a asaltar la nevera.
B1I'm so hungry that I'm going to raid the fridge.
Varios fans asaltaron el escenario durante el concierto.
B2Several fans stormed the stage during the concert.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: asaltar
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence correctly describes someone being mugged in the street?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin word 'adsaltāre', which means 'to jump upon'. It combines 'ad' (to) and 'saltāre' (to jump).
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'asaltar' always violent?
In its primary meaning of robbery, yes, it implies some level of force or threat. However, it is also used figuratively for thoughts ('asaltar una duda') or humorously ('asaltar la nevera'), which are not violent.
What is the difference between 'asaltar' and 'robar'?
'Robar' is the general word for stealing. 'Asaltar' specifically implies a sudden confrontation or a physical attack on a person or place.
Can I use 'asaltar' for a heart attack?
No, for health issues like a heart attack, Spanish uses 'dar' (Me dio un ataque) or 'sufrir' (Sufrió un ataque).