Which one should you use?
While me golpeé la cabeza is a standard way to express this, you may also encounter me di un golpe en la cabeza, which translates to "I hit my head" or "I gave myself a hit on the head".
Is it said differently in some regions?
Different regions have preferred expressions: in Mexico, you might say me di un trancazo en la cabeza. In Argentina, me pegué un porrazo en la cabeza is commonly used. And in Spain, people might use me he dado un golpe en la cabeza.
How does it change in a sentence?
In Spanish, you use a reflexive pronoun (me) and the definite article (la) instead of a possessive adjective (mi) to indicate which body part was hit.
How do you pronounce it?
/me ɡolpee la kabeθa/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid saying me golpeé mi cabeza. English speakers often mistakenly use the possessive 'mi' (my) instead of the definite article 'la' (the) when referring to body parts in Spanish.
Did you know?
- The word golpe used in me golpeé is so versatile that it can describe everything from a physical hit and a sudden noise to a romantic crush.
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, when someone says me golpeé la cabeza, a common instinctive reaction from others is to ask if they are 'seeing stars' using the phrase ver estrellas.
- The word cabeza evolved from the Vulgar Latin capitia, which was a diminutive form of the word for head.
Examples in context
- Me golpeé la cabeza y me duele muchoI hit my head, and it hurts a lot
- Necesito ver a un médico, me golpeé la cabeza fuertementeI need to see a doctor, I hit my head hard
- Hoy me golpeé la cabeza al tropezar con una puerta.Today, I hit my head by tripping over a door.
- Tengo un golpe en la cabeza después de chocar contra una pared.I have a bump on my head after hitting a wall.
- Auch, me di en la cabeza con el estante.Ouch, I bumped my head on the shelf.
- Me pegué en la cabeza con el marco de la puerta.I hit myself on the head with the door frame.
- Me golpeé la cabeza contra la puerta.I hit my head against the door.
- Me golpeé la cabeza con la puerta.I hit my head on the door.
- ¡Ay! Me golpeé la cabeza al bajar del auto.Ouch! I hit my head while getting out of the car.
- No me golpeé la cabeza muy fuerte.I didn't hit my head very hard.
Example conversation
Sofía is telling Alejandro why she has a bandage on her forehead.
- SofíaMe golpeé la cabeza en la cocina.I hit my head in the kitchen.
- Alejandro¿Estás bien, Sofía?Are you okay, Sofía?
- SofíaSí, pero me duele un poco.Yes, but it hurts a little.
- AlejandroDeberías descansar un rato.You should rest for a while.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cabeza, la, me, CC BY-SA 4.0.
