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"Atascar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to block", and "atorar" is a transitive verb which is also often translated as "to block". Learn more about the difference between "atascar" and "atorar" below.
atascar(
ah
-
tahs
-
kahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
b. to clog up
Tira los restos de comida en la basura o atascarán el fregadero.Throw the leftovers in the trash can or they will clog up the sink.
a. to hinder
Esas medidas económicas, en lugar de promover la recuperación industrial, la atascaron.Those economic hindered rather than helped the industrial recovery.
b. to hold back
La falta de fondos e interés atascaron el progreso científico.The lack of funds and interest held back the scientific progress.
a. to stall
¡No sueltes el embrague muy rápido o vas a atascar el motor!Don't let the clutch out too fast or you'll stall the engine!
atascarse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
4. (to plug up)
a. to get clogged up
¿Tienes un desatascador? El inodoro se atascó.Do you have a plunger? The toilet got clogged up.
b. to get blocked up
El plomero dijo que la tubería se atascó.The plumber said the pipeline got blocked up.
b. to get bogged down
Las ruedas delanteras se atascaron en la nieve.The front wheels got bogged down in the snow.
a. to get stuck
Javier se atascó en la segunda pregunta y no tuvo tiempo de terminar el examen.Javier got stuck on the second question and didn't have time to finish the exam.
b. to get bogged down
Me atasqué porque no tenía tiempo para estudiar ni para hacer la tarea.I got bogged down because I didn't have time to study or do homework.
a. to jam
El cerrojo del rifle se atascó y no pude disparar más.The bolt of the rifle jammed and I couldn't fire again.
a. to get stuck in a traffic jam
Voy a llegar tarde. El taxi en el que viajo se atascó en el centro.I'm going to be late. My taxi got stuck in a traffic jam downtown.
a. to dry up
Comencé a dar un discurso apasionado, pero me atasqué y no pude continuar hablando.I began giving an impassioned speech, but I dried up and couldn't keep speaking.
a. to stall
El motor se atascó mientras manejaba por una calle anegada.The engine stalled while I was driving through a flooded street.
a. to have an internal blockage
El veterinario dijo que mi perro se atascó y necesita cirugía.The veterinary said my dog has an internal blockage and needs surgery.
atorar(
ah
-
toh
-
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.
