impactar
“impactar” means “to hit” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
to hit, to strike
Also: to collide
📝 In Action
El pájaro impactó contra la ventana.
A2The bird hit the window.
La bala impactó en el centro del blanco.
B1The bullet hit the center of the target.
Los meteoritos impactaron sobre la superficie lunar.
B2The meteorites struck the lunar surface.
to shock, to impress
Also: to move
📝 In Action
Su voz me impactó desde el primer momento.
B1Her voice impressed me from the first moment.
La noticia del accidente impactó a toda la comunidad.
B1The news of the accident shocked the whole community.
Me impactó mucho ver cómo vivían esas personas.
B2It really shocked me to see how those people lived.
to impact, to affect
📝 In Action
La nueva ley impactará la economía local.
B2The new law will impact the local economy.
El cambio climático está impactando los glaciares.
B2Climate change is affecting the glaciers.
Estos cambios no deberían impactar tu salario.
C1These changes shouldn't impact your salary.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "impactar" in Spanish:
to affect→to collide→to hit→to impact→to impress→to move→to shock→to strike→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: impactar
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence means 'The bird hit the car'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin 'impactus', which is the past participle of 'impingere', meaning 'to push against' or 'to strike'.
First recorded: Modern usage became popular in the 19th century.
Cognates (Related words)
💡 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 'impactar' regular?
Yes! It follows the standard rules for all verbs ending in -ar.
Can I use 'impactar' for a car crash?
You can, but it sounds very formal, like a police report. 'Chocar' is much more common in daily life.
Does it mean 'to impress' in a positive way?
Yes, it can. If you say 'Su talento me impactó', it means you were very impressed by their talent.