palo
/PAH-loh/
stick
Palo can mean a stick, like this piece of wood.
palo(noun)
stick
?piece of wood
,pole
?long, rigid support
club
?heavy stick used for hitting
,mast
?on a ship
📝 In Action
El perro siempre trae un palo grande del parque.
A1The dog always brings a big stick from the park.
Necesitamos un palo largo para alcanzar esa rama.
A2We need a long pole to reach that branch.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender Reminder
Even though 'palo' ends in -o, remember it is a masculine noun ('el palo').
⭐ Usage Tips
Using 'palo' in Sports
In many sports, 'palo' refers to the equipment used to hit the ball, like a golf club or a hockey stick.
Palo also refers to a suit in card games, such as clubs, spades, hearts, or diamonds.
📝 In Action
Tengo todas las cartas del mismo palo, ¡voy a ganar!
B1I have all the cards of the same suit, I'm going to win!
Cambia el palo si no tienes el que sigue.
B2Change the suit if you don't have the next one.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Deck Confusion
Mistake: "Using 'palo' when you mean 'deck' (baraja) or 'card' (carta)."
Correction: 'Palo' only refers to the category (e.g., hearts or diamonds), not the whole set of cards.
⭐ Usage Tips
Spanish Card Suits
The traditional Spanish deck uses four 'palos': Oros (Gold Coins), Copas (Cups), Espadas (Swords), and Bastos (Clubs/Sticks).
Palo can also mean a blow, referring to a physical hit or impact.
palo(noun)
blow
?a physical hit or impact
,shock
?emotional difficulty or setback
setback
?a difficult situation
📝 In Action
La noticia de su despido fue un palo muy duro.
B2The news of his firing was a very hard blow/shock.
El ladrón le dio un palo en la cabeza para robarle.
C1The thief hit him on the head to rob him. (Literal physical blow)
⭐ Usage Tips
Figurative Use
When used figuratively, 'un palo' means a sudden, painful emotional experience or a major difficulty, like 'un duro golpe' (a hard hit).
✏️ 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
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!