Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| golpear | /ɡolpeˈaɾ/ |
| pegar | /peˈɡaɾ/ |
| asestar | /asesˈtaɾ/ |
| propinar | /pɾopiˈnaɾ/ |
The verb golpear is the most versatile and standard term used to describe the physical act of striking an object or a person. In a military context, the related noun interpresa can refer to an attack that is not necessarily physical. In the sport of baseball, the English word strike is used. Additionally, the slang term Ponche is used in some Latin American countries to mean strike.
Which one should you use?
While golpear is a neutral term for hitting, pegar is more common in everyday, informal speech. For more specific or formal situations, asestar is used when describing the successful landing of a precise or heavy blow, such as asestar un golpe. Similarly, propinar is used in a literary or formal sense to describe delivering a strike or a blow.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Latin American countries, Ponche is used as a slang term for strike.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun form of the action is golpe, which can refer to a single strike, a blow or a hit.
How do you pronounce it?
/ɡolpeˈaɾ/
Did you know?
- While golpe usually means a strike or blow, it is also the standard word for a 'coup d'état' in Spanish politics.
- The verb pegar is actually a distant relative of the English word 'pitch'. It originally meant to 'smear with pitch' or resin in Latin, but its meaning evolved into 'to stick' or 'to strike'.
- In Spanish, pegar is used not only to mean 'strike' but also to mean 'to stick' or 'to glue' something.
Examples in context
- La música debe pegar el fuego del corazón del hombre, y traer lágrimas a los ojos de la mujer.Music should strike fire from the heart of man, and bring tears from the eyes of woman.This sentence is useful for seeing how pegar can be used metaphorically.Tatoeba #3560352 by carlosalberto, translation #3560324 by carlosalberto
- El pitcher dio un strike increíble.The pitcher threw an incredible strike.
- Ayer vi un ponche espectacular en el partido.Yesterday, I saw a spectacular strikeout in the game.
- El bateador acumuló dos strikes sin poder conectar la pelota.The batter accumulated two strikes without hitting the ball.
- ¡Ya lleva tres chocolates en este juego!He already has three strikeouts in this game!
- El boxeador va a golpear el saco.The boxer is going to hit the punching bag.
- No debes golpear la mesa con fuerza.You shouldn't hit the table hard.
Example conversation
Sofía and Javier are at a boxing gym.
- SofíaJavier, intenta golpear el saco más fuerte.Javier, try to hit the bag harder.
- JavierEs difícil golpear con tanta potencia.It is hard to hit with so much power.
- SofíaSi sigues practicando, lo lograrás.If you keep practicing, you will achieve it.
- JavierGracias por el consejo, Sofía.Thanks for the advice, Sofía.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “strike” translations and entries golpear, pegar, asestar, propinar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries asestar, golpear, pegar, propinar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
