Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| apalear | /apaleˈaɾ/ | |
| pegar | /peˈɡaɾ/ | |
| coñacear | /koɲaθeaɾ/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /koɲaseaɾ/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
|
| tundir | /tunˈdiɾ/ | |
| tundear | /tundeaɾ/ (from spelling rules) | |
| vapulear | /bapuleˈaɾ/ | |
| aporrear | /aporeˈaɾ/ | |
| aporracear | /aporaθeaɾ/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /aporaseaɾ/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
|
| sopapear | /sopapeaɾ/ (from spelling rules) | |
| paporrear | /paporeaɾ/ (from spelling rules) | |
| zurrar | /θuˈraɾ/ /suˈraɾ/ |
|
| sacar la mierda | /sakaɾ la mjeɾda/ (from spelling rules) | |
| caerle golpe | /kaeɾle ɡolpe/ (from spelling rules) | |
| sacarle el ancho | /sakaɾle el ant͡ʃo/ (from spelling rules) | Peru |
The various forms of this phrase describe different intensities and targets of physical violence. For example, aporrear can be used to describe beating a person or hitting an inanimate object, such as a drum or a door.
Which one should you use?
While pegar is the most common and neutral way to say 'to hit' or 'to strike' once or more, words like apalear or tundir imply a sustained beating. Some forms are much more extreme, such as the slang sacar la mierda, which is used to describe beating someone up severely.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Spanish offers many registers for this concept. A formal way to express beating severely is Golpear severamente. An informal way to say 'to give a beating' is Dar una paliza, while the colloquial Meter una tunda means 'to give a thrashing'. For very vulgar or slang contexts, one might use sacar la mierda to mean 'to beat the shit out of' someone.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Different regions have specific expressions: in Argentina, you can use cagar a palos. In Mexico, the phrase partirle la madre is used. And in Peru, the expression sacarle el ancho describes beating someone up.
How does it change in a sentence?
In many Spanish-speaking regions, rather than using a single verb, it is very common to use the noun phrase dar una paliza to express the act of beating someone up.
How do you pronounce it?
/apaleˈaɾ/
Did you know?
- In Mexico, the vulgar phrase partirle la madre translates literally as 'splitting the mother', which targets family honor rather than just the person being beaten.
- The word pegar is a relative of the English word 'pitch'. Both come from a Latin term for smearing something with a sticky resin.
- The verb apalear contains the word palo, which means 'stick'.
Examples in context
- Los matones le dieron una paliza al pobre chicoThe thugs beat up the poor boy
- Mis amigos metieron una tunda a aquel bravucónMy friends beat up that bully
- Los pandilleros le partieron la madre al rivalThe gang members beat up the rival
- El reportero fue violentamente golpeado durante la manifestaciónThe reporter was violently beaten up during the protest
- Los jugadores del equipo visitante dieron una paliza a los localesThe visiting team's players beat up the locals
Example conversation
María and Alejandro are talking about a crime news report.
- María¿Viste que apalearon al sospechoso en la calle?Did you see that they beat up the suspect in the street?
- AlejandroSí, fue una situación muy violenta.Yes, it was a very violent situation.
- MaríaEs terrible que alguien quiera apalear a otro así.It is terrible that someone wants to beat up another person like that.
- AlejandroTienes razón, María, la violencia es horrible.You are right, María, violence is horrible.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “beat up” translations and entries apalear, pegar, tundir, vapulear, aporrear, sopapear, zurrar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries apalear, pegar, tundir, CC BY-SA 4.0.
