atropellar
“atropellar” means “to run over” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to run over
Also: to knock down
📝 In Action
El coche atropelló a un perro en la calle.
A2The car ran over a dog in the street.
Ten cuidado al cruzar, no dejes que te atropellen.
B1Be careful when crossing; don't let them run you over.
La gente se atropellaba para entrar primero al concierto.
B2People were knocking each other down to get into the concert first.
to trample on
Also: to disregard
📝 In Action
No podemos permitir que atropellen nuestros derechos civiles.
B2We cannot allow them to trample on our civil rights.
El director atropelló la opinión de todo el equipo.
C1The director disregarded the opinion of the whole team.
Atropellaron la ley para conseguir sus objetivos.
C1They trampled the law to achieve their goals.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "atropellar" in Spanish:
to disregard→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: atropellar
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence correctly describes a car accident?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Derived from the Spanish word 'tropa' (troop or crowd). It originally meant to move through a place like a large, disorganized troop, pushing everything out of the way.
First recorded: 16th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use 'atropellar' for a bike hitting someone?
Yes! Any moving vehicle—a car, a bike, a scooter, or even a horse—can 'atropellar' someone.
What is an 'atropello'?
As a noun, it can mean the act of running someone over, but it is also commonly used to mean an 'outrage' or a 'gross injustice'.
Does it always involve an accident?
Not always. It can also describe a crowd of people pushing through a doorway in a disorganized and somewhat violent way.

