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A2 verb #2,500 le plus courant 7 min de lecture

atacar

At the A1 level, 'atacar' is introduced in its most literal and physical sense. Students learn it to describe simple actions, usually involving animals or basic sports. For example, 'O cão ataca o gato' (The dog attacks the cat). The focus is on the present tense and simple subject-verb-object structures. At this stage, the word helps learners describe basic conflict or movement in a story. It is often paired with common nouns like 'bola' (ball), 'comida' (food), or 'inimigo' (enemy). The goal is to understand that 'atacar' implies an action moving toward a target with energy or aggression.
At the A2 level, the usage of 'atacar' expands to include more common daily scenarios and basic figurative uses. Students learn to use it in the past tense (Pretérito Perfeito) to describe events that happened, such as 'O time atacou muito no jogo de ontem' (The team attacked a lot in yesterday's game). The concept of a medical 'attack' or flare-up is also introduced, like 'A minha alergia atacou por causa das flores'. Learners start to see 'atacar' in the context of 'attacking' a task or a meal. The grammar remains straightforward, but the variety of contexts increases to include sports, health, and social habits.
At the B1 level, 'atacar' begins to appear in more abstract and professional contexts. Learners use it to describe tackling problems or addressing issues: 'Precisamos atacar a causa do problema, não apenas os sintomas'. The use of the subjunctive mood with 'atacar' becomes important, for example, 'É necessário que ataquemos este projeto com dedicação'. Students also learn to distinguish 'atacar' from more specific verbs like 'agredir' or 'assaltar'. The figurative use in journalism and basic political discussion (e.g., 'atacar uma proposta') becomes a key part of the vocabulary, allowing for more nuanced expression of opinions.
At the B2 level, students should be comfortable using 'atacar' in complex sentence structures and varied registers. This includes understanding its role in formal debates, legal challenges, and sophisticated literary descriptions. For instance, 'O advogado atacou a validade das provas apresentadas'. Learners explore the nuances of 'atacar' in the passive voice and with various pronominal forms. They also learn common idiomatic expressions and how 'atacar' can be used to describe psychological states or intense social phenomena. The focus is on precision—knowing when 'atacar' is the most impactful word to use compared to its synonyms.
At the C1 level, 'atacar' is used with high precision in academic and specialized discourses. A C1 learner understands the subtle connotations of using 'atacar' in a philosophical critique or a high-level business strategy. They can use the verb to describe complex interactions, such as 'A inflação ataca o poder de compra das classes mais baixas'. The learner is also aware of the historical and etymological roots of the word, allowing for creative or archaic uses in literature. Mastery at this level involves using 'atacar' to convey not just action, but intent, strategy, and systemic impact.
At the C2 level, the learner uses 'atacar' with the same flexibility and nuance as a highly educated native speaker. This includes using the word in sophisticated metaphors, wordplay, and very specific technical contexts (like cybersecurity or advanced pathology). A C2 speaker might use 'atacar' to describe the way light 'attacks' a canvas in a painting or how a particular musical note 'attacks' the silence. They are fully aware of the word's potential for irony and can manipulate its intensity to suit any rhetorical purpose, from a scathing political manifesto to a delicate poetic verse.
Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces

atacar en 30 secondes

  • Atacar means to initiate an aggressive or offensive action across physical, sporting, medical, and intellectual contexts.
  • It is a regular -ar verb, making it easy to conjugate in all standard Portuguese tenses.
  • Commonly used for physical assaults, sports strategies, disease flare-ups, and tackling difficult problems or projects.
  • Synonyms include agredir (violence) and enfrentar (confronting), while the primary antonym is defender (defend).

The Portuguese verb atacar is a dynamic and versatile term that primarily denotes the act of initiating a hostile or aggressive action against someone or something. At its core, it describes a physical assault, such as in military contexts or animal behavior. However, its semantic range extends far beyond physical violence. In a sporting context, it refers to the offensive phase of a game where a team attempts to score. In a medical or biological sense, it describes how a disease, virus, or chemical substance affects an organism. Furthermore, in abstract or intellectual discourse, atacar is used to describe the act of vigorously addressing a problem, criticizing an idea, or even starting a task with great energy. Understanding this word requires recognizing the shift from literal physical force to figurative intensity.

Physical Aggression
The most direct use, involving physical force or weapons.
Sports Strategy
Moving toward the opponent's goal to score points.
Medical Context
When a pathogen begins to affect the body's systems.
Problem Solving
To confront a difficult situation or task head-on.

"O exército decidiu atacar ao amanhecer para surpreender o inimigo."

— Military context: Literal physical assault.

"Precisamos atacar o problema da inflação imediatamente."

— Figurative context: Addressing a societal issue.

"O vírus ataca o sistema imunológico rapidamente."

— Biological context: Pathogen activity.

"Eles atacaram a comida assim que chegaram da festa."

— Colloquial context: Eating hungrily.

"O crítico atacou duramente o novo filme do diretor."

— Intellectual context: Verbal or written criticism.
Etymology
Derived from the Italian 'attaccare', originally meaning to join or attach, later evolving into 'to join battle'.

Using atacar correctly involves matching the intensity of the verb with the appropriate context. In everyday conversation, you might use it to describe a dog barking at a stranger or a football team's strategy. In professional settings, it often appears in discussions about project management or crisis resolution. When you 'atacar um projeto', you are not destroying it; you are dedicating full energy to completing it. This duality—destruction versus energetic construction—is key to its usage. Grammatically, it is a transitive verb, meaning it usually requires a direct object (the thing being attacked). For example, 'O gato atacou (verbo) o rato (objeto)'. In the passive voice, 'O rato foi atacado pelo gato', the focus shifts to the victim. It is also important to note the preposition 'com' when describing the means of the attack: 'atacar com uma faca' (to attack with a knife) or 'atacar com argumentos' (to attack with arguments). In the context of health, it is often used without a direct object to describe a sudden onset: 'A asma atacou' (The asthma flared up). This reflexive-like usage is common with chronic conditions. When discussing sports, 'atacar' is the opposite of 'defender'. A team that 'ataca bem' has a strong offense. In social situations, 'atacar a geladeira' (to attack the fridge) is a very common humorous way to say someone is looking for a late-night snack. The verb is also central to legal and political discourse, where 'atacar uma lei' means to challenge its validity in court. Mastery of 'atacar' allows a learner to navigate from basic physical descriptions to complex socio-political critiques.

You will encounter atacar in a wide variety of environments. In the news, it is a staple of headlines regarding international conflicts, crime reports, and political debates. A headline might read 'Manifestantes atacam sede do governo', indicating a physical confrontation. In sports broadcasting, commentators use it constantly: 'O Benfica está atacando com muita força', describing the pressure one team puts on another. In a medical setting, a doctor might ask, 'Quando foi a última vez que a sua alergia atacou?', referring to a symptomatic flare-up. In academic or literary circles, you'll hear it used to describe the refutation of a theory: 'O autor ataca as premissas do realismo'. On the street, you might hear a parent warn a child, 'Cuidado, esse cachorro pode atacar!', or friends joking about 'atacar uma pizza'. It is also prevalent in business meetings when discussing market competition: 'Precisamos atacar esse novo nicho de mercado antes dos nossos concorrentes'. Because it covers everything from a literal punch to a marketing strategy, it is one of the most high-frequency verbs in the Portuguese language. Even in computer science, 'atacar' is used in the context of cybersecurity, such as 'atacar um servidor' (to attack a server/hacking). Its presence in music, especially in genres like Rap or Samba-enredo that deal with social struggles, is also significant, often symbolizing the fight against oppression or social 'attacks' on the poor.

One of the most frequent mistakes learners make with atacar is overusing it in contexts where 'criticar' or 'enfrentar' might be more precise. While 'atacar' is acceptable for criticism, it carries a connotation of aggression. If you simply mean to give feedback, 'criticar' or 'comentar' is better. Another common error is related to the prepositional usage. Unlike some English phrasal verbs, 'atacar' does not usually take a preposition like 'on' or 'at' in Portuguese; it goes directly to the object. For example, say 'atacar o problema', not 'atacar no problema'. Learners also sometimes confuse 'atacar' with 'atrasar' (to delay) due to phonetic similarity, leading to confusing sentences like 'O ônibus atacou' instead of 'O ônibus atrasou'. In the context of health, learners often forget that 'atacar' can be used intransitively to mean 'to flare up'. They might try to say 'A asma me atacou', which is correct, but 'A asma atacou' is often more natural for native speakers. Additionally, be careful with the word 'ataque' (the noun). While 'atacar' is the verb, 'dar um ataque' usually refers to having a fit of rage or a medical episode (like a heart attack - 'ataque cardíaco'). Misusing these can lead to unintended meanings. Finally, in the context of tying shoes, remember that 'atacar os sapatos' is very old-fashioned or regional; using it in a modern urban setting might make you sound like a 19th-century novel. Stick to 'amarrar' for laces to avoid sounding archaic.

To truly master atacar, it is helpful to understand its synonyms and related terms. Agredir is a close synonym but is almost exclusively used for physical or verbal violence against a person; it lacks the strategic or constructive nuances of 'atacar'. Investir can mean to attack (especially in a charge), but in modern Portuguese, it is much more common in financial contexts (to invest). However, 'investir contra alguém' still means to charge at someone. Acometer is a more formal, literary synonym often used for diseases or sudden impulses. Abordar is used when 'attacking' a topic or a person in a non-violent way, like 'approaching' a subject. Enfrentar (to face/confront) is often a better choice when the 'attack' is actually a brave confrontation of a challenge. On the opposite side, defender (to defend) is the direct antonym in sports and combat. Proteger (to protect) and recuar (to retreat) are also essential opposites. Understanding the difference between 'atacar' and assaltar is crucial: 'assaltar' specifically means to attack with the intent to rob. If you say 'O homem atacou o banco', it might mean he criticized the bank or threw a stone at it; if you say 'O homem assaltou o banco', it means he robbed it. Choosing the right word among these depends on the level of formality and the specific intent of the action.

How Formal Is It?

Formel

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Argot

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Niveau de difficulté

Grammaire à connaître

Exemples par niveau

1

O gato ataca o brinquedo.

The cat attacks the toy.

Present tense, 3rd person singular.

2

O leão ataca a zebra.

The lion attacks the zebra.

Basic SVO structure.

3

Não ataque o seu irmão!

Don't attack your brother!

Imperative mood (negative).

4

Eles atacam a bola.

They attack the ball.

Present tense, 3rd person plural.

5

O cachorro ataca o carteiro.

The dog attacks the mailman.

Common everyday scenario.

6

Eu ataco a maçã.

I attack the apple.

First person singular.

7

O urso ataca no inverno?

Does the bear attack in winter?

Interrogative sentence.

8

Nós atacamos o castelo.

We attack the castle.

First person plural.

1

O time atacou muito bem hoje.

The team attacked very well today.

Pretérito Perfeito (Past tense).

2

A minha rinite atacou ontem.

My rhinitis flared up yesterday.

Intransitive use for health.

3

As crianças atacaram o bolo de chocolate.

The children attacked the chocolate cake.

Colloquial use for eating.

4

O exército atacou a cidade vizinha.

The army attacked the neighboring city.

Historical/Military context.

5

Por que você atacou o meu desenho?

Why did you attack my drawing?

Figurative use for destruction.

6

O vírus atacou muitos computadores.

The virus attacked many computers.

Technology context.

7

Nós vamos atacar o problema amanhã.

We are going to attack the problem tomorrow.

Future with 'ir' + infinitive.

8

O tubarão atacou o surfista.

The shark attacked the surfer.

Action verb in the past.

1

Precisamos atacar a corrupção no país.

We need to attack corruption in the country.

Abstract noun as object.

2

Se o inimigo atacar, nós defenderemos.

If the enemy attacks, we will defend.

Future Subjunctive + Future Indicative.

3

A doença atacou as plantações de café.

The disease attacked the coffee plantations.

Agricultural context.

4

O político atacou as ideias do oponente.

The politician attacked the opponent's ideas.

Verbal/Intellectual attack.

5

Espero que a asma não ataque durante a viagem.

I hope the asthma doesn't flare up during the trip.

Present Subjunctive.

6

Eles atacaram o projeto com muito entusiasmo.

They attacked the project with much enthusiasm.

Positive figurative use.

7

O leão foi atacado por um grupo de hienas.

The lion was attacked by a group of hyenas.

Passive voice.

8

Não adianta atacar apenas as consequências.

It's no use attacking only the consequences.

Infinitive as subject.

1

O governo decidiu atacar a inflação com novas medidas.

The government decided to tackle inflation with new measures.

Strategic figurative use.

2

O vírus ataca preferencialmente as células nervosas.

The virus preferentially attacks nerve cells.

Scientific register.

3

O advogado atacou a credibilidade da testemunha.

The lawyer attacked the witness's credibility.

Legal context.

4

É fundamental atacar as raízes da desigualdade social.

It is fundamental to attack the roots of social inequality.

Formal rhetoric.

5

O crítico atacou a obra sem piedade.

The critic attacked the work without mercy.

Literary/Artistic criticism.

6

Se você atacar o problema agora, poupará tempo depois.

If you tackle the problem now, you will save time later.

Conditional sentence.

7

A frota atacou o porto ao cair da noite.

The fleet attacked the port at nightfall.

Military narrative.

8

O cão foi treinado para não atacar estranhos.

The dog was trained not to attack strangers.

Infinitive after preposition.

1

O ensaio ataca veementemente as premissas do neoliberalismo.

The essay vehemently attacks the premises of neoliberalism.

Academic register.

2

A ferrugem atacou a estrutura metálica da ponte.

Rust attacked the metal structure of the bridge.

Chemical/Structural context.

3

O pânico atacou a multidão após o estrondo.

Panic attacked the crowd after the loud bang.

Abstract subject (personification).

4

O hacker atacou o sistema de segurança do banco.

The hacker attacked the bank's security system.

Cybersecurity context.

5

A oposição atacou o decreto presidencial no Supremo Tribunal.

The opposition challenged the presidential decree in the Supreme Court.

Legal/Political challenge.

6

O autor ataca o problema sob uma nova perspectiva.

The author tackles the problem from a new perspective.

Intellectual approach.

7

A praga atacou impiedosamente as videiras da região.

The pest mercilessly attacked the region's vines.

Agricultural disaster.

8

Não se deve atacar a pessoa, mas sim o argumento.

One should not attack the person, but rather the argument.

Ad hominem fallacy context.

1

A obsolescência ataca os alicerces da indústria moderna.

Obsolescence attacks the foundations of modern industry.

Philosophical/Economic metaphor.

2

O niilismo atacou a moralidade daquela geração.

Nihilism attacked the morality of that generation.

Historical/Philosophical context.

3

A melancolia atacou-o de forma avassaladora.

Melancholy attacked him in an overwhelming way.

Literary personification of emotion.

4

O exército invasor atacou a soberania nacional.

The invading army attacked national sovereignty.

Political abstraction.

5

A crítica mordaz atacou a hipocrisia da elite.

The biting criticism attacked the hypocrisy of the elite.

Sociological critique.

6

O câncer atacou os tecidos moles de forma agressiva.

The cancer aggressively attacked the soft tissues.

Clinical precision.

7

O tempo ataca a beleza, mas preserva a essência.

Time attacks beauty but preserves the essence.

Poetic/Philosophical aphorism.

8

O promotor atacou a tese da defesa com lógica férrea.

The prosecutor attacked the defense's thesis with iron logic.

High-level legal rhetoric.

Collocations courantes

atacar o problema
atacar a bola
atacar o inimigo
atacar a inflação
atacar o sistema
atacar a geladeira
atacar de surpresa
atacar duramente
atacar frontalmente
atacar a saúde

Phrases Courantes

atacar os sapatos

atacar a comida

atacar um projeto

atacar as raízes

atacar a base

atacar por trás

atacar de frente

atacar com tudo

atacar o mercado

atacar a tese

Souvent confondu avec

atacar vs atrasar (delay)

atacar vs atracar (to dock a ship)

atacar vs atentar (to attempt/pay attention)

Expressions idiomatiques

""

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""

""

""

""

""

""

""

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Facile à confondre

atacar vs atracar

atacar vs atrasar

atacar vs agredir

Structures de phrases

Comment l'utiliser

nuance

Atacar implies the start of an action, not necessarily its completion.

formality

It is appropriate in almost all registers, from slang to high academic prose.

Erreurs courantes
  • Saying 'atacar para' instead of just 'atacar' + object.
  • Confusing 'atacar' with 'atrasar' (delay).
  • Using 'atacar' when you just mean a mild disagreement.
  • Forgetting the 'c' becomes 'qu' in some forms (though not in 'atacar' itself, but in related words like 'ataque').
  • Using 'atacar' for 'to attach' (use 'anexar' or 'prender').

Astuces

Sports Link

Associate 'atacar' with soccer to remember its offensive meaning.

Direct Object

Don't put 'em' or 'a' after 'atacar' when it means to assault something.

Food Fun

Use 'atacar a geladeira' to sound like a local when you're hungry.

Flare-ups

Use 'atacar' for allergies or asthma that suddenly get worse.

Problem Solving

Use it in meetings to show you are ready to solve a problem.

Strong Verbs

Replace 'falar mal de' with 'atacar' for more impact in writing.

Stress

Stress the last syllable: ata-KAR.

Antonym

Always remember 'defender' is the opposite.

Warning

'Cuidado, ele ataca!' is a common warning for dogs.

Military

It's the primary word for military offensives in history books.

Mémorise-le

Origine du mot

Italian 'attaccare'

Contexte culturel

Brazilians often use 'atacar' for chronic issues like sinus problems (sinusite) or allergies.

Using 'atacar' for food is a sign of intimacy and comfort.

The 'atacante' is the most popular position in Brazilian soccer.

Pratique dans la vie réelle

Contextes réels

Amorces de conversation

"O seu time de futebol ataca bem?"

"O que você faz quando a sua alergia ataca?"

"Como devemos atacar este novo projeto?"

"Você já foi atacado por algum animal?"

"Qual é a melhor forma de atacar a inflação?"

Sujets d'écriture

Descreva uma vez que você atacou um problema difícil.

Escreva sobre um jogo onde o seu time atacou muito.

Como você se sente quando a sua saúde 'ataca'?

O que você faria se visse um animal atacando alguém?

Reflita sobre a frase: 'A melhor defesa é atacar'.

Questions fréquentes

10 questions

Yes, but it is very old-fashioned. Use 'amarrar' instead.

No, 'atacar um problema' is usually seen as a positive, proactive action.

The noun is 'ataque'.

It is 'ataque cardíaco' or 'enfarte'.

Yes, 'atacar os argumentos de alguém' is very common.

Yes, it follows the standard -ar conjugation pattern.

Usually no, it takes a direct object.

Yes, it is the standard word for animal aggression.

In sports, it is a forward or striker.

Yes, 'o vírus ataca as células' is scientifically correct.

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