pegar
/peh-GAR/
to hit
Pegar (to hit) can refer to physical contact or striking.
pegar(verb)
to hit
?physical contact, striking
,to punch
?with a fist
to strike
?hitting something hard
📝 In Action
El niño no quería pegar a su hermano.
A1The boy didn't want to hit his brother.
El boxeador pegó un golpe limpio al oponente.
A2The boxer landed a clean punch on the opponent.
Si le pegas a la puerta, se va a romper.
A1If you hit the door, it's going to break.
💡 Grammar Points
Spelling Tweak (G to GU)
When the 'g' sound needs to come before an 'e', 'pegar' changes to 'pegu-' (like in the past tense 'yo' form: 'yo pegué') so the sound stays strong, like in 'gato'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Indirect Meaning: Shouting
'Pegar un grito' is a common phrase meaning 'to shout' or 'to yell,' even though it literally translates to 'to hit a shout'.
When translating as 'to stick', pegar describes something adhering to a surface.
pegar(verb)
to stick
?to adhere to a surface
,to glue
?using adhesive
to paste
?paper/crafts
,to attach
?firmly joining two things
📝 In Action
Necesitas pegamento para pegar las dos piezas de madera.
A2You need glue to stick the two pieces of wood together.
La etiqueta no pega bien en esta superficie.
A2The label doesn't stick well on this surface.
Pegué el póster en la pared de mi habitación.
A2I stuck the poster on my bedroom wall.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'stick' incorrectly
Mistake: "La goma pegó."
Correction: La goma se pegó. (When the action is happening to the object itself, use the reflexive 'se pegó'.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Related Noun
The related noun for 'glue' or 'adhesive' is often 'pegamento,' which comes directly from 'pegar'.
Pegar also means 'to infect' or transmit a disease.
pegar(verb)
to infect
?transmitting a disease
,to transmit
?spreading something
to catch (a habit)
?acquiring a behavior from someone else
,to be contagious
?used impersonally
📝 In Action
No te acerques, no quiero pegarte la tos.
B1Don't come near, I don't want to give you (infect you with) the cough.
Esa canción pegó muy fuerte el año pasado.
B2That song became very popular (caught on) last year. (Informal)
Su mala suerte se me pegó.
B1His bad luck rubbed off on me (stuck to me).
💡 Grammar Points
Using 'Se pegar'
When talking about catching a disease or a habit, you often use the verb reflexively ('pegarse') to show that the thing stuck to you: 'Se me pegó el resfriado' (The cold stuck to me / I caught the cold).
⭐ Usage Tips
Fashion and Trends
In informal Spanish, 'pegar' is used to talk about something becoming popular or successful, like a song or a style: 'Esa moda pegó mucho' (That trend really caught on).
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: pegar
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'pegar' in the sense of 'to stick or glue'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'pegar' rude when it means 'to hit'?
While it simply means 'to hit' or 'to strike,' the context often implies violence, so you should be mindful of the situation. For sports or non-violent actions (like hitting a ball), it is perfectly neutral.
How do I say 'to stick around' or 'to stay close' using 'pegar'?
You would use the reflexive form 'pegarse a alguien/algo' (to stick oneself to someone/something). For example, 'El niño se pegó a su madre' means 'The child stayed close to/clung to his mother.'