chocar

Chocar is a verb used in Spanish and Portuguese with several related meanings centered on impact and surprise. The core sense in both languages is physical: to collide or crash. The noun form choqué, choque, refers to the event itself, such as a collision or impact.

In usage, chocar describes objects or vehicles making contact: for example, in Spanish “el coche chocó contra la pared” or “el coche chocó contra otro coche.” In Portuguese, forms like “o carro chocou com a árvore” or “bateu” are commonly heard, with regional variation between usar “com” and “contra.” Beyond the literal sense, chocar can express shock or surprise: “me chocó la noticia” (it shocked me). It can also signal a clash or conflict, as in ideas or opinions that do not armonize, or in “chocar con alguien” to indicate clashes with a person.

Conjugation and grammar differ by language. In Spanish, chocar is a regular -ar verb: present indicative yo choco, tú chocas, él choca, nosotros chocamos, vosotros chocáis, ellos chocan; preterite chocé, chocaste, chocó, chocamos, chocasteis, chocaron. In Portuguese, chocar is regular in many dialects: present eu choco, tu chocas, ele choca, nós chocamos, vós chocais, eles chocam; preterite eu choquei, chocaste, chocou, chocámos, chocastes, chocaram. Usage tends to favor choques de impacto in formal writing and chocar with contexts of surprise in both languages.

See also: choques (collisions), chocar con/com, colidir.