Inklingo

tiroteo

tee-roh-TEH-oh/ti.ɾoˈte.o/

tiroteo means gunfight in Spanish (exchange of gunfire between two or more parties).

gunfight, shootout

Also: firefight
NounmB2
Mexico
A colorful storybook illustration showing two simple, stylized figures facing each other, both actively exchanging bright orange muzzle flashes and smoke plumes across a short distance.

📝 In Action

El tiroteo en la calle principal alarmó a todos los vecinos.

B2

The gunfight on the main street alarmed all the neighbors.

La policía llegó rápido para detener el tiroteo.

B1

The police arrived quickly to stop the shootout.

Después del tiroteo, encontraron muchos casquillos de bala.

C1

After the gunfight, they found many bullet casings.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • balacera (shooting (informal/regional))
  • enfrentamiento (confrontation)

Common Collocations

  • abrir un tiroteoto start a gunfight
  • un tiroteo masivoa mass shooting

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "tiroteo" in Spanish:

firefightgunfightshootout

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: tiroteo

Question 1 of 1

Which Spanish word means a single instance of firing a weapon, not an exchange of gunfire?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family
🎵 Rhymes
📚 Etymology

The word comes from the verb 'tirar' (to shoot or throw) combined with the suffix '-eo.' This suffix is used to create nouns that describe the action or process of the verb, meaning 'tiroteo' literally describes 'the action of shooting/exchanging shots.'

First recorded: 19th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: tiroteio

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'tiroteo' and 'disparo'?

'Tiroteo' is a noun that means a continuous gunfight or shootout (many shots). 'Disparo' is a noun that means a single shot from a weapon. You can have many 'disparos' during one 'tiroteo'.