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palo

PAH-lohˈpa.lo

“palo” means “stick” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:

stick, pole

Also: club, mast
NounmA1
A smooth, brown wooden stick resting horizontally on a patch of green grass.

📝 In Action

El perro siempre trae un palo grande del parque.

A1

The dog always brings a big stick from the park.

Necesitamos un palo largo para alcanzar esa rama.

A2

We need a long pole to reach that branch.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • palo de golf – golf club
  • palo de escoba – broomstick

suit

NounmB1
A large, simple black club symbol, representing a suit in a deck of cards, centered on a vibrant background.

📝 In Action

Tengo todas las cartas del mismo palo, ¡voy a ganar!

B1

I have all the cards of the same suit, I'm going to win!

Cambia el palo si no tienes el que sigue.

B2

Change the suit if you don't have the next one.

Word Connections

Common Collocations

  • palo de copas – suit of cups (Spanish deck)
  • palo de tréboles – suit of clubs (French deck)

blow, shock

Also: setback
NounmB2informal
SpainPuerto Rico, Cuba
A simple illustration showing a wooden mallet striking a wooden block, with white visual lines radiating outward indicating the force of the impact.

📝 In Action

La noticia de su despido fue un palo muy duro.

B2

The news of his firing was a very hard blow/shock.

El ladrón le dio un palo en la cabeza para robarle.

C1

The thief hit him on the head to rob him. (Literal physical blow)

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • dar un palo – to deliver a blow/to rob (slang)
  • recibir un palo – to receive a shock/hit

Idioms & Expressions

  • Estar al palo – To be very difficult or complicated (often in Central America)

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "palo" in Spanish:

blow→club→mast→pole→setback→shock→stick→suit→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: palo

Question 1 of 2

Which meaning of 'palo' is used in the sentence: 'El equipo recibió un palo al perder la final.'

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
palillo(small stick, toothpick) — Noun
paliza(beating (physical or in a game)) — Noun
empalado(impaled) — Adjective
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

The word comes from the Latin word *pālus*, which meant 'stake' or 'prop.' This origin perfectly explains the meaning of a rigid, long piece of wood.

First recorded: Around the 13th century in Spanish.

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: pauItalian: palo

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'palo' ever used as a verb?

Not directly. 'Palo' is a noun. However, the verb 'apalear' (to beat/club) and the phrase 'dar un palo' (to hit or rob) are derived from it and are very common.

Does 'palo' have any vulgar or slang uses?

Yes, in several Spanish-speaking countries, 'palo' can be used as slang, often referring to a difficult situation or sometimes a physical assault. Always pay attention to the context and region!