noun, masculine/pataˈtus/plural: patatuses
faint (act of fainting), swoon; heart attack; fit
“Cuando vi la factura de la luz, ¡casi me daba un patatús!” — When I saw the electricity bill, I almost fainted!
Synonyms: desmayo, chungo, ataque al corazón
From pata (“foot”) + tús (possibly an onomatopoeia imitating the thump made by someone falling onto the ground). Some have proposed it that it may have come from French patapouf (“splat!”).