How do you say 'heart attack' in Spanish?

The most common phrase is ataque al corazón, understood universally across Spanish-speaking countries. In medical and clinical settings, infarto (de miocardio) is the preferred term. Paro cardíaco (cardiac arrest) is a different condition—it refers to the heart stopping entirely, not a blockage. Knowing the distinction between ataque al corazón and paro cardíaco can be important in emergencies.

What is the verb form of ataque?

The verb is atacar (to attack), a regular -ar verb with one spelling change: the c becomes qu before e in certain forms (ataqué in the first-person preterite). Conjugation: yo ataco, tú atacas, él ataca, nosotros atacamos. The past tense first person is ataqué (I attacked), with the spelling change preserving the /k/ sound.

How do you say 'panic attack' in Spanish?

A panic attack is an ataque de pánico or crisis de pánico. Both terms are used in psychology and everyday conversation. In clinical settings, you may also hear episodio de ansiedad aguda (acute anxiety episode). The phrase tuve un ataque de pánico (I had a panic attack) is the most straightforward way to describe the experience.

Spanish vocabulary · Beginner

ATTACK in Spanish: ATAQUE

Written by Sofia Ramirez, Lead Spanish Curriculum Editor · Reviewed May 2026

Ataque · noun · ah-TAH-keh

Attack in Spanish is ataque (noun) and atacar (verb). The word covers military attacks, medical emergencies (ataque al corazón = heart attack), panic episodes (ataque de pánico = panic attack), and cybersecurity incidents (ataque cibernético). This breadth of meaning mirrors English closely, making ataque relatively intuitive for learners to apply across contexts.

ah-TAH-keh

El ataque cibernético afectó a miles de usuarios en todo el país.

The cyberattack affected thousands of users across the country.

Attack in Spanish: Quick Reference

Below are the most common Spanish words for attack, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.

Spanish	English	Pronunciation	Region / Register
ataque	attack	ah-TAH-keh	Default, widely understood
atacar	attack		verb form: to attack
agresión	attack		assault or act of aggression

How Native Speakers Use Ataque

Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.

Medical emergency

Llamó a la ambulancia cuando su padre sufrió un ataque al corazón.

She called the ambulance when her father suffered a heart attack.

Ataque al corazón is the widely understood term; infarto is the clinical synonym.

Sports context

El equipo lanzó un ataque rápido y anotó en los últimos minutos.

The team launched a quick attack and scored in the final minutes.

Ataque is standard sports vocabulary for an offensive play.

Cybersecurity

Implementaron nuevas medidas de seguridad después del ataque informático.

They implemented new security measures after the computer attack.

Ataque informático and ataque cibernético are both used for cyberattacks.

Avoid These Mistakes When Using Ataque

Confusing ataque al corazón with ataque de corazón

Incorrect: Tuvo un ataque de corazón. (using de)

Correct: Tuvo un ataque al corazón. (using al)

While both are understood, the standard medical phrasing is ataque al corazón (literally 'attack to the heart'). The preposition al (a + el) indicates direction, matching the idiomatic expression. In clinical settings, infarto de miocardio or simply infarto is preferred.

Using atacar reflexively when not needed

Incorrect: Se atacó el problema. (meaning they attacked the problem)

Correct: Atacaron el problema.

Atacar is transitive and does not need the reflexive se in this context. Se atacó implies the problem attacked itself. The direct construction atacaron el problema (they attacked the problem) is correct.

Lock in Attack Vocabulary with the Parrot Method

Why word lists alone don't stick

Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.

See Ataque used by native speakers

Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using ataque in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear El ataque cibernético afectó a miles de usuarios en todo el país. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.

Save, review, repeat, stay consistent

Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.

Common Questions About Attack in Spanish

How do you say 'heart attack' in Spanish?: The most common phrase is ataque al corazón, understood universally across Spanish-speaking countries. In medical and clinical settings, infarto (de miocardio) is the preferred term. Paro cardíaco (cardiac arrest) is a different condition—it refers to the heart stopping entirely, not a blockage. Knowing the distinction between ataque al corazón and paro cardíaco can be important in emergencies.
What is the verb form of ataque?: The verb is atacar (to attack), a regular -ar verb with one spelling change: the c becomes qu before e in certain forms (ataqué in the first-person preterite). Conjugation: yo ataco, tú atacas, él ataca, nosotros atacamos. The past tense first person is ataqué (I attacked), with the spelling change preserving the /k/ sound.
How do you say 'panic attack' in Spanish?: A panic attack is an ataque de pánico or crisis de pánico. Both terms are used in psychology and everyday conversation. In clinical settings, you may also hear episodio de ansiedad aguda (acute anxiety episode). The phrase tuve un ataque de pánico (I had a panic attack) is the most straightforward way to describe the experience.