Spanish word of the day: Atasco

What does atasco mean?

Atasco (masculine noun) – A traffic jam, blockage, or any kind of situation where movement is stopped or slowed down. While it’s most commonly used for cars stuck on the road, atasco can also describe any kind of bottleneck or holdup, even outside of traffic.

Example sentences with atasco

• Llegué tarde por culpa de un atasco en la autopista.
  🚗🛑 I was late because of a traffic jam on the highway.

• Siempre hay atasco en el centro a la hora punta.
  ⏰🚦 There’s always a traffic jam downtown at rush hour.

• El atasco en la tubería fue difícil de arreglar.
  🚰🔧 The blockage in the pipe was hard to fix.

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Atasco in context

You’ll hear atasco every day in Spanish-speaking cities, especially during rush hour or when there’s construction on the roads. But it’s not just about cars—atasco can also refer to any kind of jam or obstruction, like a clogged pipe or a bureaucratic holdup. It’s a practical word for describing those moments when things just aren’t moving as they should.

If you want to sound natural in Spanish, use atasco whenever you’re talking about traffic, blockages, or any situation where progress is stalled. It’s a word that fits perfectly into conversations about daily hassles and urban life.