Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| salpicar | /salpiˈkaɾ/ |
| chacualear | /t͡ʃakwaleaɾ/ (from spelling rules) |
| chapalear | /t͡ʃapaleˈaɾ/ |
| chapaletear | /t͡ʃapaleteˈaɾ/ |
| chapotear | /t͡ʃapoteˈaɾ/ |
The verb forms describe the action of hitting or agitating a liquid. You can use the noun salpicadura to refer to the actual splash or the droplets of liquid that result from an impact. Related nouns that can refer to a small amount of liquid include chorrito, chiringuito and poquito.
Which one should you use?
While all these terms involve liquid, they are used in different contexts. Use salpicar when liquid hits a surface or a person, such as water splashing onto a sidewalk or someone's clothes. Use chapotear specifically when a person or animal is splashing around within a body of water, like a pool or a puddle. The other forms provided are chacualear, chapalear and chapaletear.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, the term salpicadura is commonly used to refer to splashes.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/salpiˈkaɾ/
Did you know?
- In certain Spanish dialects, the word salpicar can be used metaphorically to describe something that is scattered or dotted across a surface, like stars in the sky.
- The verbs chapalear, chapaletear and chapotear are all onomatopoeic, meaning they were created to mimic the actual sound of water hitting a surface.
- Spanish has a high number of synonyms for splashing, such as chapalear and chapaletear, which allow speakers to distinguish between different textures and rhythms of water movement.
Examples in context
- El agua salpicaba en todas direcciones.The water splashed in all directions.
- El chapoteo de la fuente creaba un ambiente relajante.The splashing of the fountain created a relaxing atmosphere.
- Los niños chapotean en la piscina durante el verano.The children splash around in the pool during the summer.
- Ten cuidado de no salpicar el agua.Be careful not to splash the water.
- Los niños suelen salpicar en la piscina.The children tend to splash in the pool.
- No quiero salpicar mi ropa limpia.I don't want to splash my clean clothes.
Example conversation
At a swimming pool during a sunny afternoon.
- María¡Daniel, no salpiques tanto el agua!Daniel, don't splash the water so much!
- DanielLo siento, María, es que estoy jugando.I'm sorry, María, it's just that I am playing.
- MaríaMe vas a salpicar toda la cara.You are going to splash my whole face.
- DanielEstá bien, tendré más cuidado ahora.Okay, I will be more careful now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “splash” translations and entries salpicar, chapalear, chapaletear, chapotear, 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 chapaletear, chapotear, CC BY-SA 4.0.
