Inklingo
← Dictionary

atracar

ah-trah-KARatɾaˈkaɾ

to rob

Also: to hold up, to mug
VerbB1spelling change ar
A person in a black mask and striped shirt holding a large sack with a dollar sign on it.
gerundatracando
past Participleatracado
infinitiveatracar

📝 In Action

Dos hombres intentaron atracar el banco central.

B1

Two men tried to rob the central bank.

Me atracaron a punta de navaja en el parque.

B1

I was mugged at knifepoint in the park.

La policía detuvo al ladrón antes de que pudiera atracar a nadie.

B2

The police caught the thief before he could rob anyone.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • atracar a mano armada – armed robbery
  • atracar un banco – to rob a bank

to dock

Also: to moor
VerbB2regular (with spelling change) ar
A small wooden sailboat tied to a wooden pier on calm blue water.
gerundatracando
past Participleatracado
infinitiveatracar

📝 In Action

El crucero atracará en el puerto a las ocho de la mañana.

B1

The cruise ship will dock in the port at eight in the morning.

Es difícil atracar el barco cuando hay mucho viento.

B2

It is difficult to dock the boat when it is very windy.

Ya hemos atracado, podemos bajar a tierra.

B2

We have already docked; we can go ashore.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • anclar (to anchor)
  • amarrar (to tie up/moor)

Antonyms

  • zarpar (to set sail)
  • desatracar (to undock)

Common Collocations

  • atracar en el muelle – to dock at the pier

to stuff oneself

Also: to binge
VerbB2regular (often reflexive) arinformal
A happy person sitting at a table piled high with many different types of food like cake, fruit, and sandwiches.
gerundatracándose
past Participleatracado
infinitiveatracarse

📝 In Action

Nos atracamos de pizza durante la película.

B2

We stuffed ourselves with pizza during the movie.

No te atraques de dulces antes de cenar.

B2

Don't binge on sweets before dinner.

Después de la dieta, se atracó de todo lo que encontró.

C1

After the diet, he stuffed himself with everything he found.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • hartarse (to get full/fed up)
  • atiborrarse (to gorge)

Antonyms

  • ayunar (to fast)

Common Collocations

  • atracarse de comida – to stuff oneself with food

Subjunctive

Imperfect Subjunctive

yoatracara
túatracaras
él/ella/ustedatracara
nosotrosatracáramos
vosotrosatracarais
ellos/ellas/ustedesatracaran

Present Subjunctive

yoatraque
túatraques
él/ella/ustedatraque
nosotrosatraquemos
vosotrosatraquéis
ellos/ellas/ustedesatraquen

Indicative

Preterite

yoatraqué
túatracaste
él/ella/ustedatracó
nosotrosatracamos
vosotrosatracasteis
ellos/ellas/ustedesatracaron

Imperfect

yoatracaba
túatracabas
él/ella/ustedatracaba
nosotrosatracábamos
vosotrosatracabais
ellos/ellas/ustedesatracaban

Present

yoatraco
túatracas
él/ella/ustedatraca
nosotrosatracamos
vosotrosatracáis
ellos/ellas/ustedesatracan
View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "atracar" in Spanish:

to binge→to dock→to moor→to mug→to rob→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: atracar

Question 1 of 3

If you are 'atracando un barco', what are you doing?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
atraco(robbery) — Noun
atracador(robber) — Noun
atraque(docking) — Noun
atracón(binge) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Probably from the nautical term 'traque', which refers to a hauling rope or the side of a ship. The transition went from pulling a ship close to land, to approaching a person closely for an assault.

First recorded: 16th Century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: atracar

💡 Master Spanish

Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'atracar' the same as 'robar'?

'Robar' is a general word for stealing. 'Atracar' specifically implies a hold-up or mugging, usually involving a weapon or physical intimidation.

Why is there a 'qu' in some forms?

It's a spelling rule! In Spanish, 'ce' sounds soft (like 's'). To keep the hard 'K' sound from 'atracar' when adding an 'e', we have to use 'que' instead.

Can I use 'atracar' for drinking too?

Yes, 'atracarse de bebida' can be used informally to mean binge drinking, though it is more common with food.