vs
QUICK ANSWER
"Atracar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to rob", and "amarrar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to tie". Learn more about the difference between "atracar" and "amarrar" below.
atracar(
ah
-
trah
-
kahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to assault)
a. to rob
Desde que atracaron a Margarita, siempre carga gas pimienta.Ever since Margarita was robbed, she always carries pepper spray.
Guido está preso porque atracó una joyería.Guido is in jail because he robbed a jewelry store.
b. to hold up (a place)
Vi en las noticias que una banda de ladrones atracó varios almacenes.I saw in the news that a gang of thieves held up several stores.
c. to mug (a person)
Un asaltante atracó a Juan cuando caminaba por el parque anoche.An assailant mugged Juan as he walked in the park last night.
2. (nautical)
a. to dock
Encontramos una bahía muy tranquila donde podremos atracar nuestro bote.We found a very quiet bay where we can dock our boat.
3. (to annoy) (Latin America)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
a. to beat
Mi hermano me atracó porque le rompí la consola de videojuegos.My brother beat me because I broke his video game console.
5. (colloquial) (to put close) (Chile)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Chile
a. to shove together
Atraquemos las dos mesas, así nos podemos sentar todos juntos.Let's shove the two tables together so we can all sit side by side.
a. to jam
Atracaste el mecanismo de la sierra y ahora no funciona.You jammed the mechanism of the saw and now it's not working.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
7. (nautical)
8. (colloquial) (to kiss) (Chile)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Chile
a. to make out (colloquial) (United States)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in the United States
¿Cómo te fue con Elisa? - Atracamos, pero no tuvimos sexo.How did it go with Elisa? - We made out, but we didn't have sex.
b. to snog (colloquial) (United Kingdom)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
Te vi atracando con una morocha hermosa en la pista de baile.I saw you snogging a beautiful brunette on the dance floor.
atracarse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
9. (to gobble)
a. to stuff oneself
Se atracó de golosinas y ahora tiene dolor de estómago.She stuffed herself with sweets and now she has a stomach ache.
b. to gorge oneself
Había tanta comida que todos nos atracamos hasta casi reventar.There was so much food that we all gorged ourselves until we were about to burst.
10. (colloquial) (to get close)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. to come up to
¿Por qué te sientas tan lejos? Atrácate más a mí y así podemos hablar.Why are you sitting so far away? Come up to me so we can chat.
b. to get stuck
La puerta del garaje se atracó y no puedo sacar el coche.The garage door got stuck and I can't use my car.
amarrar(
ah
-
mah
-
rrahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to fasten)
c. to moor (nautical)
La tripulación amarró el barco en el puerto.The crew moored the boat in the harbor.
2. (to secure) (Latin America)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
b. to tie up (United Kingdom)
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
La empresa está haciendo lo necesario por amarrar el acuerdo.The company is doing everything necessary to tie up the agreement.
amarrarse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
3. (to lace) (Latin America)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
a. to tie
Mi hija acaba de aprender a amarrarse las agujetas.My daughter just learned how to tie her shoelaces.
