ataque
/ah-TAH-keh/
attack
In Spanish, ataque refers to a general assault, whether military, physical, or verbal.
ataque(Noun)
attack
?military, physical, or verbal assault
strike
?military or industrial action
,offensive
?in sports or military
,heart attack
?short for 'ataque al corazón'
📝 In Action
El castillo sobrevivió al ataque.
A2The castle survived the attack.
El equipo lanzó un ataque rápido y marcó un gol.
B1The team launched a quick attack and scored a goal.
El médico dijo que fue un ataque al corazón.
B1The doctor said it was a heart attack.
Sufrí un ataque verbal inesperado durante el debate.
B2I suffered an unexpected verbal attack during the debate.
💡 Grammar Points
Is it 'el' or 'la'?
'Ataque' is a masculine noun, even though it ends in 'e'. So, you always use 'el' or 'un' with it, like 'el ataque' (the attack) or 'un ataque' (an attack).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing the Noun and the Verb
Mistake: "Yo ataque el problema."
Correction: Yo ataco el problema. 'Ataque' is the thing (the noun), while 'atacar' is the action (the verb). Think of 'attack' the noun vs. 'I attack' the verb in English.
⭐ Usage Tips
From War to Sports
This word is very flexible. You'll hear it for a military action, a sharp criticism in a debate, a forward move in a soccer game, or a medical emergency like a heart attack.
When describing a sudden medical or emotional episode, ataque translates to a 'fit' or 'bout,' as in ataque de risa (laughing fit).
ataque(Noun)
fit
?sudden, short period of an illness or emotion
bout
?a short period of intense activity
,spell
?a short period of a particular type of illness
📝 In Action
Le dio un ataque de tos en medio de la reunión.
B1He had a coughing fit in the middle of the meeting.
Tuvo un ataque de pánico antes de su presentación.
B1She had a panic attack before her presentation.
Después de escuchar el chiste, me dio un ataque de risa.
B2After hearing the joke, I had a laughing fit.
💡 Grammar Points
Using 'de' to Specify
To say what kind of 'fit' it is, you just add 'de' plus the noun describing it. For example, 'ataque de tos' (fit of coughing) or 'ataque de pánico' (fit of panic).
⭐ Usage Tips
Medical and Emotional
This meaning is almost always used for things related to the body or feelings, like an illness, a strong emotion (laughter, anger), or a psychological state (panic).
This form of ataque is the verb 'to attack' (atacar) used in commands or subjunctive phrases.
📝 In Action
No quiero que el perro me ataque.
B1I don't want the dog to attack me.
Es importante que la prensa no ataque su vida privada.
B2It's important that the press doesn't attack his private life.
General, ataque al amanecer.
B2General, attack at dawn.
💡 Grammar Points
What is this verb form?
'Ataque' is the form of 'atacar' used after certain trigger phrases like 'quiero que...' (I want that...), 'espero que...' (I hope that...), or to give a formal command.
Spelling Change Alert: c → qu
Notice how the 'c' in 'atacar' changes to 'qu' in 'ataque'. This happens to keep the hard 'k' sound. If it were 'atace', it would sound like /ah-TAH-seh/.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
preterite
imperfect
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: ataque
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'ataque' to mean a medical or emotional episode?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'ataque' and 'asalto'?
They are very similar! 'Ataque' is a general word for any kind of attack. 'Asalto' often implies a more direct, physical, and often criminal attack, like a robbery ('asalto a un banco') or a physical assault on a person.
Is 'ataque de nervios' the same as a 'panic attack'?
It can be, but 'ataque de nervios' is a broader cultural term. It can describe a panic attack, but also an intense emotional outburst with crying, shouting, or anger that isn't necessarily a clinical panic attack. It's more of a 'nervous breakdown' or 'fit of nerves'.