palo
/ˈpaloʔ/
To spank in Tagalog is palo.
palo is used to describe smacking or slapping a person's buttocks, either with a bare hand or an object. While it is often used in the context of spanking, it functions as a general term for hitting or striking with a hand or a stick.
Meaning: to smack or slap a person's buttocks, with the bare hand or other object. (verb)
Which one should you use?
The term palo is a general word for hitting or striking. If you want to specifically describe slapping someone's face, you should use sampal instead of palo.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈpaloʔ/
Did you know?
- Although palo sounds identical to the Spanish word for 'stick', it likely comes from an ancient ancestor language called Proto-Austronesian.
- The word palo is frequently used in the phrase palo ng tadhana, which refers to the 'blows of fate' or life's hardships.
- Because palo can refer to hitting with a stick, using it in a conversation about children can imply a more severe punishment than just a light hand spanking.
Examples in context
- Nakatanggap siya ng palo dahil sa kulit.She received a spank because of being naughty.
Example conversation
Jasmine is warning Juan about his behavior.
- JasmineJuan, ayusin mo ang ugali mo.Juan, behave yourself.
- JuanAno ba, Jasmine!What is it, Jasmine!
- JasmineBaka palo kita niyan.I might spank you for that.
- JuanSige, subukan mo lang.Go ahead, just try it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “spank” translations and entries palo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries palo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
