Inklingo

How to Say "crash" in Spanish

English → Spanish

choque

CHOH-keh/ˈtʃo.ke/

nounA1
Use this for a collision between vehicles, like cars or bicycles.
A simple illustration showing the front bumpers of two small, colorful cars slightly touching after a minor impact.

Examples

El choque entre los dos coches fue muy fuerte.

The collision between the two cars was very strong.

Llamaron a la policía después del choque.

They called the police after the crash.

El choque frontal dejó a los conductores heridos.

The head-on collision left the drivers injured.

Masculine Noun

Remember that 'choque' is always a masculine word, so you must use 'el' or 'un' before it.

Confusing 'choque' and 'chocar'

Mistake: “Using 'yo choque' when you mean 'yo choqué' (I crashed).”

Correction: 'Choque' is the noun (the crash itself). Use the verb 'chocar' (to crash) for actions.

accidente

/ak-see-DEN-tay//ak.siˈðen.te/

nounA2
Use this for an unfortunate event, often involving injury, not necessarily a vehicle collision.
A simple illustration of a minor traffic accident where two cartoon cars have lightly bumped each other on a street, showing surprise but no severe damage.

Examples

Tuve un pequeño accidente en la cocina y me quemé la mano.

I had a little accident in the kitchen and burned my hand.

El tráfico está terrible por un accidente en la autopista.

The traffic is terrible because of an accident on the highway.

Fue un accidente, no lo hizo a propósito.

It was an accident, he didn't do it on purpose.

It's a Masculine Word

Even though 'accidente' ends in '-e', it's a masculine word. Always say 'el accidente' or 'un accidente'.

'Tener' vs. 'Sufrir'

Mistake: “You can say 'tener un accidente' (to have an accident), which is very common. But for more serious events, you might hear 'sufrir un accidente'.”

Correction: 'Sufrir un accidente' adds a sense of seriousness, like saying 'to suffer an accident'. Example: 'Sufrió un grave accidente.' (He suffered a serious accident.)

boom

/boom/ (like the English word)/bum/

nounA2informal
Use this to describe the loud noise made by something hitting another object forcefully.
A simplified illustration of a large, sudden cloud of grey smoke and bright orange light erupting from a central point, symbolizing a loud explosion sound.

Examples

Oímos un gran boom que venía de la calle.

We heard a big boom coming from the street.

El cohete hizo boom y desapareció en el cielo.

The rocket went boom and disappeared into the sky.

Sound Words

In Spanish, words that imitate sounds (onomatopoeia) often function like nouns, or they are paired with verbs like 'hacer' (to make) to describe the action.

colapso

/ko-LAP-so//koˈlapso/

nounB1formal
Use this for a complete breakdown or failure, especially in economic or traffic situations.
A wooden bridge with broken planks and a sagging middle section.

Examples

Hubo un colapso total del tráfico en el centro.

There was a total traffic jam in the center.

El sistema de salud está al borde del colapso.

The healthcare system is on the verge of collapse.

La burbuja inmobiliaria provocó un colapso económico.

The housing bubble caused an economic crash.

Always Masculine

This word is always masculine. You should always use 'el' or 'un' with it, regardless of what is collapsing.

Don't confuse with the verb

Mistake: “El tráfico colapso.”

Correction: El tráfico colapsó (verb) or Hubo un colapso (noun).

Accidente vs. Choque

Learners often confuse 'accidente' and 'choque'. Remember that 'choque' specifically refers to a collision, usually between vehicles. 'Accidente' is broader and can refer to any unfortunate event, even a non-vehicular one like the kitchen example.

Related Translations

Learn Spanish with Inklingo

Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.