paliza
/pah-LEE-sah/
beating
In the context of a physical attack, paliza means a beating.
📝 In Action
El matón le dio una paliza y le robó el dinero.
B1The bully gave him a beating and stole his money.
La policía detuvo a los responsables de la paliza.
B2The police arrested those responsible for the thrashing.
💡 Grammar Points
Always Feminine
Even though it ends in '-a', remember to use the feminine article: 'la paliza'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Strong Language
This word is very strong and should only be used in serious or dramatic contexts. It's not a light word.
When referring to sports or competition, paliza translates to a crushing defeat.
paliza(noun)
crushing defeat
?sports/competition
,rout
?a complete loss
hammering
?informal, competition
📝 In Action
El equipo de fútbol sufrió una paliza de 6-0 en la final.
B2The soccer team suffered a crushing defeat of 6-0 in the final.
Le dimos una paliza jugando a las cartas anoche.
C1We gave him a hammering playing cards last night.
💡 Grammar Points
Figurative Use
This meaning uses the idea of physical violence to describe a result: a defeat so bad it felt like a physical attack.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Severity
Mistake: "Using 'derrota' when the loss was huge and embarrassing."
Correction: Use 'paliza' specifically for a massive, humiliating loss, not just any defeat.
⭐ Usage Tips
Use with 'Dar'
The most common way to talk about winning overwhelmingly is 'dar una paliza' (to give a beating).
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: paliza
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'paliza' in its figurative sense?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
¿Es 'paliza' una palabra vulgar o malsonante?
No es vulgar, pero es una palabra fuerte. Se usa en contextos informales para describir algo violento o una derrota muy humillante. Es importante usarla solo cuando la situación es realmente grave o la derrota es total.
If I want to say 'We beat them' in a game, should I use 'paliza'?
Yes, absolutely! The best phrase is 'Les dimos una paliza.' This clearly communicates that you didn't just win, you dominated them completely.