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abofetear

ah-bo-feh-teh-ahr/a.bo.fe.teˈaɾ/

“abofetear” means “to slap” in Spanish (hitting someone across the face with an open hand).

to slap

Also: to strike
VerbB1regular ar
Mexico and Central America
A colorful storybook illustration showing one person gently slapping another person's cheek with an open hand.
gerundabofeteando
past Participleabofeteado
infinitiveabofetear

📝 In Action

Ella no quería abofetear al actor, pero era parte del guion.

B1

She didn't want to slap the actor, but it was part of the script.

La realidad lo abofeteó de repente.

B2

Reality slapped him all of a sudden.

¡No me vuelvas a abofetear!

A2

Don't you slap me again!

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • dar una bofetada (to give a slap)
  • cachetear (to slap (Latin America))

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • abofetear la mejilla – to slap the cheek
  • querer abofetear a alguien – to want to slap someone

🔄 Conjugations

subjunctive

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesabofetearan
yoabofeteara
túabofetearas
vosotrosabofetearais
nosotrosabofeteáramos
él/ella/ustedabofeteara

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesabofeteen
yoabofetee
túabofetees
vosotrosabofeteéis
nosotrosabofeteemos
él/ella/ustedabofetee

indicative

preterite

ellos/ellas/ustedesabofetearon
yoabofeteé
túabofeteaste
vosotrosabofeteasteis
nosotrosabofeteamos
él/ella/ustedabofeteó

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesabofeteaban
yoabofeteaba
túabofeteabas
vosotrosabofeteabais
nosotrosabofeteábamos
él/ella/ustedabofeteaba

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesabofetean
yoabofeteo
túabofeteas
vosotrosabofeteáis
nosotrosabofeteamos
él/ella/ustedabofetea
View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "abofetear" in Spanish:

to slap→to strike→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: abofetear

Question 1 of 3

Which of these refers specifically to a slap on the face?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
bofetada(a slap) — Noun
bofetón(a big/hard slap) — Noun
abofeteado(slapped) — Adjective
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Formed from the noun 'bofetada', which likely comes from the sound of air being blown or a hand hitting skin (an onomatopoeia).

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: esbofetear

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'abofetear' always violent?

While it literally describes a physical hit, it is frequently used in movies or books to describe a shocking moment or a 'slap in the face' to someone's pride.

Is it different from 'cachetear'?

Both mean to slap. 'Abofetear' is used everywhere and is a bit more formal, while 'cachetear' is very common in Latin America.

Can I use it to mean 'to hit' in general?

No. Use 'pegar' for hitting in general. 'Abofetear' is very specific to the open-hand face strike.