chocar

to crash, to collide

verb choh-KAHR Less Common

Origin: Likely from an expressive root related to the sound of impact; compare English 'shock.'

Also means

to clash (opinions)

Usage Note

Chocar follows the -car spelling-change pattern: the c becomes qu before -e (choqué, choquemos). It is used for physical collisions (los coches chocaron) and figurative clashes (sus ideas chocaron). In Spain me choca can mean 'it surprises/strikes me', a usage less common in Latin America. The same verb also covers clinking glasses in a toast — chocar las copas.

Examples

"Los dos coches chocaron en la esquina."

Natural Translation

The two cars crashed at the corner.

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