golpea
/gol-PÉH-ah/
hits
When 'golpea' means 'hits,' it refers to a direct physical action, like striking a drum.
golpea(Verb (Conjugation))
hits
?He/She/It hits
,strikes
?He/She/It strikes
,knocks
?He/She/It knocks (on a door)
you hit (formal)
?Usted form
,bangs
?Making a loud striking sound
📝 In Action
Ella golpea la puerta para entrar.
A1She knocks on the door to enter.
El viento golpea las ventanas toda la noche.
A2The wind hits the windows all night.
Si usted golpea el tambor, sonará más fuerte.
B1If you (formal) hit the drum, it will sound louder.
💡 Grammar Points
Dual Role of 'Golpea'
This single form means two things: 'He/She/It hits' (Present tense) AND 'Hit!' (giving a friendly command to one person, the tú imperative).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing 'Golpear' and 'Pegar'
Mistake: "Using 'pegar' when referring to the wind or waves hitting something, which often sounds too harsh."
Correction: 'Golpear' is better for non-aggressive striking, like wind on a window or waves on the shore. 'El mar golpea la costa'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Use for Knocking
When talking about knocking on a door, 'golpear' is perfect and very common. You can also use 'llamar a la puerta' (to call at the door).
Figuratively, 'golpea' means 'deals a blow,' referring to a sudden, negative impact, such as bad news or a crisis.
golpea(Verb (Conjugation))
deals a blow
?Figurative impact, like a crisis or bad news
,shocks
?Emotionally affects someone deeply
strikes (figurative)
?A disaster or event affecting a region
📝 In Action
La crisis económica golpea fuertemente a las familias.
B2The economic crisis deals a heavy blow to families.
La noticia de su despido me golpea mucho.
C1The news of his firing shocks me greatly. (Literally: deals a blow to me.)
💡 Grammar Points
Figurative Use
In this sense, 'golpea' often describes negative events (like a recession, a drought, or bad news) acting as the subject, hitting the people or things (the direct object).
⭐ Usage Tips
Formal Contexts
Use this figurative meaning when discussing serious societal issues or emotional hardships in a more formal or journalistic style.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: golpea
Question 1 of 2
Which of these sentences uses 'golpea' as a command?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'golpea' an irregular verb?
No, 'golpea' comes from the verb 'golpear,' which is a fully regular verb. It follows all the standard conjugation patterns for verbs ending in -AR.
How do I know if 'golpea' means 'he hits' or 'hit!' (command)?
Context is key! If the sentence starts with a person or thing doing the action (like 'Ella golpea'), it's a statement. If it stands alone or is directed at someone with an exclamation (like '¡Golpea rápido!'), it's a command.