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"Atascado" is a form of "atascado", an adjective which is often translated as "blocked". "Atorado" is a form of "atorar", a transitive verb which is often translated as "to block". Learn more about the difference between "atascado" and "atorado" below.
atascado
An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
1. (obstructed)
a. blocked
La cañería está atascada. Hay que llamar al fontanero.The pipe is blocked. We have to call a plumber.
b. clogged
¿Y toda esta agua? - No sé. El fregadero debe de estar atascado.What's all this water? - I don't know. The sink must be clogged.
c. backed up
¡Oh, no! ¡No me digas que el inodoro está atascado otra vez!Oh, no! Don't tell me the toilet is backed up again!
2. (seized up)
a. stuck
De pronto, durante el examen oral, me quedé atascado y no sabía qué decir.Suddenly I got stuck during my oral and I didn't know what to say.
atorar(
ah
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toh
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rahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to stop up)
b. to clog
Romina quitó la basura que atoraba la cañería.Romina removed the garbage that was clogging the pipe.
c. to obstruct
El balcón se llenó de agua porque había algo que atoraba el desagüe.The balcony flooded because something was obstructing the drain.
2. (to hold in place) (Central America) (Mexico)
Regionalism used in Central America: Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama
Regionalism used in Mexico
a. hold open (window or door)
Pablo atoró la ventana con un papel doblado para que no se cierre.Pablo held the window open with a folded piece of paper.
atorarse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
3. (to swallow the wrong way) (Latin America)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
a. to choke
Tragué una espina de pescado por accidente y me atoré.I choked when I accidentally swallowed a fishbone.
4. (to stutter) (Latin America)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
a. to get tongue-tied
Estaba nervioso durante mi presentación y me atoré varias veces.I was nervous during my presentation and I got tongue-tied many times.
a. to become clogged
El desagüe de la bañera se atoró con pelos.The bathtub drain became clogged with hair.
a. to get stuck
La camioneta se atoró en el lodo y tuvimos que empujarla para sacarla.The pickup truck got stuck in the mud and we had to push it to get it out.
