golpear
“golpear” means “to hit” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
to hit, to strike
Also: to knock, to beat
📝 In Action
Tienes que golpear la pelota con fuerza para que cruce la red.
A2You have to hit the ball hard so it crosses the net.
Alguien está golpeando la puerta, ¿puedes abrir?
A2Someone is knocking on the door, can you open it?
El viento fuerte golpeaba las ventanas toda la noche.
B1The strong wind was striking the windows all night.
to bump into, to crash into
Also: to run into
📝 In Action
Me golpeé la cabeza con el estante de arriba.
B1I bumped my head on the shelf above.
El coche se golpeó contra la pared al salir del garaje.
B2The car crashed into the wall while leaving the garage.
to shock, to hit hard
Also: to affect deeply
📝 In Action
La noticia de su despido nos golpeó a todos.
B2The news of his firing hit us all hard (shocked us).
La realidad económica golpeó a las familias más pobres.
C1The economic reality affected the poorest families deeply.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
🔀 Commonly Confused With
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: golpear
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'golpear' in its figurative sense (Definition 3)?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word comes from the noun 'golpe' (a blow or strike), which itself has an uncertain origin but is linked to ancient sounds suggesting impact.
First recorded: Medieval Spanish
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
When should I use 'golpear' versus 'pegar'?
Both mean 'to hit.' 'Golpear' often implies a single, significant blow or strike, or knocking (like on a door). 'Pegar' is often more general, meaning 'to hit' or 'to stick/glue,' and is sometimes used more casually.
What is the difference between 'golpearse' and 'golpear'?
'Golpear' means *you* hit something else ('Yo golpeo la pared'). 'Golpearse' means you hit *yourself* or a part of your body accidentally ('Me golpeé la rodilla' - I bumped my knee). The added 'se' shows the action involves the speaker.