Inklingo

How to Say "applause" in Spanish

English → Spanish

aplauso

ah-PLOW-soh/aˈplau̯.so/

nounA1general
Use 'aplauso' when referring to the collective sound made by clapping hands, often described as loud or sustained.
A pair of human hands enthusiastically clapping together, with small curved lines indicating the sound of the applause.

Examples

El público tributó un gran aplauso a los artistas.

The audience gave the artists a big round of applause.

Al terminar la canción, el público estalló en un aplauso fuerte.

When the song finished, the audience erupted in loud applause.

Necesitas dar un aplauso a los niños por su esfuerzo.

You need to give the children a clap for their effort.

El aplauso duró varios minutos, pidiendo otra canción.

The applause lasted several minutes, asking for another song.

Masculine Noun

Remember that 'aplauso' is always treated as a masculine word, so you use 'el aplauso' or 'un aplauso'.

Using the Plural too Easily

Mistake:Dio unos aplausos.

Correction: Dio un aplauso. (Spanish often uses the singular 'aplauso' where English might say 'a round of applause' or 'some applause'.)

palma

/PAHL-mah//ˈpalma/

nounB1general
Use 'palma' when focusing on the act of clapping hands as a gesture of approval or to keep rhythm, often done by individuals within a group.
Two hands coming together to clap.

Examples

Empezaron a dar palmas para animar al equipo.

They started clapping to encourage the team.

Todo el mundo empezó a dar palmas al ritmo de la música.

Everyone started clapping to the rhythm of the music.

El público rompió en palmas tras el concierto.

The audience burst into applause after the concert.

Sound vs. Action

The most common mistake is using 'aplauso' when you mean the action of clapping ('dar palmas'). Remember, 'aplauso' is the resulting sound, while 'palma' (often in the phrase 'dar palmas') is the physical act of clapping.

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