How to Say "to mug" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “to mug” is “asaltar” — use 'asaltar' when referring to a direct, often violent, attack on a person in a public place, like a street robbery..
asaltar
/ah-sahl-TAHR//asalˈtaɾ/
Examples
Lo asaltaron justo cuando salía del banco.
They mugged him just as he was leaving the bank.
Es peligroso caminar por esa calle de noche porque te pueden asaltar.
It is dangerous to walk down that street at night because you could get mugged.
Dos hombres armados intentaron asaltar la joyería.
Two armed men tried to rob the jewelry store.
Using 'a' with people
When you use 'asaltar' to describe robbing a specific person, you must use the word 'a' before their name or the description of the person (e.g., 'Asaltaron a María').
Sudden Action
This verb describes an action that is usually quick and unexpected, unlike 'robar' which can mean stealing secretly over time.
Asaltar vs. Robar
Mistake: “Me asaltaron el reloj.”
Correction: Me robaron el reloj (o) Me asaltaron para quitarme el reloj.
atracar
/ah-trah-KAR//atɾaˈkaɾ/
Examples
Dos hombres intentaron atracar el banco central.
Two men tried to mug the central bank.
Me atracaron a punta de navaja en el parque.
I was mugged at knifepoint in the park.
La policía detuvo al ladrón antes de que pudiera atracar a nadie.
The police caught the thief before he could rob anyone.
The 'c' to 'qu' Spelling Swap
In forms where the ending starts with an 'e' (like the past 'yo' form), the 'c' changes to 'qu' so it still sounds like a hard 'K' (atraqué).
Atracar vs. Robar
Use 'atracar' when someone is confronted or force is used. Use 'robar' for general stealing, like a pickpocket or someone taking a bike.
Spelling Error in Past Tense
Mistake: “Yo atracé.”
Correction: Yo atraqué. In Spanish, 'ce' sounds like an 's' or 'th', so we need the 'qu' to keep the original sound of the word.
Asaltar vs. Atracar
Related Translations
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