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"Chocar" is an intransitive verb which is often translated as "to crash", and "atropellar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to run over". Learn more about the difference between "chocar" and "atropellar" below.
chocar(
choh
-
kahr
)An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
b. to collide
El jugador chocó accidentalmente con el portero.The player accidentally collided with the goalie.
c. to bump
Cuando di la vuelta a la esquina, choqué con una chica que venía hablando por teléfono.When I turned the corner, I bumped into a girl who was talking on her phone.
a. to clash
Los dos lados chocaron en un conflicto violento.The two sides clashed in a violent conflict.
3. (to puzzle)
a. to surprise
Lo que me choca más es la falta de responsabilidad.What surprises me most is the lack of responsibility.
4. (to bug) (Colombia) (Mexico) (Venezuela)
Regionalism used in Colombia
Regionalism used in Mexico
Regionalism used in Venezuela
atropellar(
ah
-
troh
-
peh
-
yahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. to run over
Ese camión con exceso de velocidad casi la atropella.That speeding truck almost ran her over.
b. to knock down
El conductor atropelló al policía que estaba parado en la calle.The driver knocked down the police officer standing in the street.
c. to hit
Un camión atropelló a un peatón que estaba cruzando la calle mayor.A truck hit a pedestrian who was crossing the main street.
b. to ride roughshod over
Los ricos tienen que dejar de atropellar a los pobres.The rich have to stop riding roughshod over the poor.
c. to violate
El dictador atropelló los derechos de los ciudadanos por 30 años.The dictator violated the rights of the citizens for 30 years.
atropellarse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
3. (to hasten)
a. to rush
Siempre que se emociona, se atropella al hablar.She always rushes her words when she gets excited.
b. to trip over one's words
Se me atropellaban las palabras durante mi plática.I was tripping over my own words during my talk.
A reciprocal verb is a verb that indicates that two or more subjects perform an action on each other (e.g., Ellos se abrazan.).
a. to push and shove
Cuando llegó la hora del descanso, los niños empezaron a atropellarse para salir.When it was time for recess, the children started pushing and shoving to go out.
