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How to Say "to choke" in Spanish

English → Spanish

atorar

/ah-toh-RAR//atoˈɾaɾ/

verbA2
Use this word when food or a small object gets stuck in your throat, preventing you from breathing or swallowing.
A simple illustration of a small wooden wagon with one wheel wedged deep in a crack in the pavement.

Examples

Me atoré con un hueso de pollo.

I choked on a chicken bone.

El coche se atoró en el lodo y no pudimos moverlo.

The car got stuck in the mud and we couldn't move it.

Estaba tan nervioso que me atoré a mitad del discurso.

I was so nervous that I got tongue-tied in the middle of the speech.

The Reflexive 'Se'

When you are the one experiencing the 'stuck' feeling (like choking or being in traffic), you must add 'me, te, se, nos, os' before the verb.

Choking: Food vs. Water

In Spanish, use 'atorarse' when a solid object (like bread) is stuck. If you are struggling with liquid or lack of air in water, use 'ahogarse'.

Using 'chocar' for traffic

Mistake: “Me choqué en el tráfico.”

Correction: Me atoré en el tráfico. ('Chocar' means to crash into something; 'atorarse' means you are stuck and cannot move).

ahogar

/ah-oh-GAR//aoˈɡaɾ/

verbA2
This is used for choking due to drowning in water or suffocating from smoke or lack of air.
A small wooden toy boat sinking beneath the surface of clear blue water.

Examples

El socorrista salvó al niño que se estaba ahogando.

The lifeguard saved the boy who was drowning.

El humo del incendio me estaba ahogando.

The smoke from the fire was suffocating me.

Ten cuidado con ese trozo de carne, no te vayas a ahogar.

Be careful with that piece of meat, don't choke.

The Spelling Change Rule

When 'g' meets 'e', it usually changes its sound. To keep the hard 'g' sound in words like 'ahogué', we add a silent 'u' after the 'g'.

Doing it to Yourself

Use the reflexive form 'ahogarse' (adding 'me', 'te', 'se', etc.) when someone is drowning or choking themselves by accident.

Wrong Spelling in Past Tense

Mistake: “Yo ahogé en la piscina.”

Correction: Yo ahogué. You must add the 'u' so it doesn't sound like 'aho-hay'.

ahorcar

/ah-or-KAR//aoɾˈkaɾ/

verbB1
Use this when something is squeezing your neck, making it difficult to breathe, like a tight collar or tie.
A man with a red face pulling at a very tight shirt collar and tie.

Examples

Afloja la corbata, que me estás ahorcando.

Loosen the tie; you're choking me.

Este cuello me ahorca un poco.

This collar is squeezing me a bit.

Use with People vs. Things

Even though a shirt is a thing, we often use 'ahorcar' as if it is actively squeezing us. It's a colorful way to say something is way too tight.

Confusing 'to choke' with 'to drown'

Mistake: “Me ahorco en la piscina.”

Correction: Me ahogo en la piscina. ('Ahorcar' is specifically about the neck/strangling; 'ahogar' is for drowning or general choking).

estrangular

/es-trahn-goo-LAHR//estɾaŋɡuˈlaɾ/

verbB1formal
This term specifically refers to the act of cutting off someone's air supply by applying pressure to the neck, often with malicious intent.
A simple illustration of a thick rope tied in a tight knot around a wooden post, showing pressure.

Examples

El asesino intentó estrangular a su víctima.

The killer tried to strangle his victim.

Ten cuidado con esa cuerda, no te vayas a estrangular.

Be careful with that rope, don't accidentally strangle yourself.

Las manos del atacante lo estrangularon con fuerza.

The attacker's hands throttled him with force.

The Personal 'A'

When you use this verb with a person (e.g., strangling someone), you must put 'a' before the person: 'Estrangular a alguien'.

Regular Pattern

This verb follows the standard -ar pattern. If you know how to conjugate 'hablar', you can conjugate this word perfectly.

Ahogar vs. Estrangular

Mistake: “El humo me está estrangulando.”

Correction: El humo me está ahogando.

Confusing 'Atorar' and 'Ahogar'

Learners often confuse 'atorar' (choking on food/object) and 'ahogar' (choking from water/smoke). Remember that 'atorar' is for something *in* your throat, while 'ahogar' is for lack of air from the surroundings or immersion.

Related Translations

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