Inklingo

How to Say "knocking" in Spanish

English → Spanish

tocando

/toh-KAHN-doh//toˈkando/

verb (gerund)B1
Use this when referring to the act of tapping or striking a surface, most commonly a door, to get someone's attention.
A human fist making contact with a wooden door, depicting the action of knocking.

Examples

¿Quién está tocando la puerta a estas horas?

Who is knocking on the door at this hour?

La campana de la iglesia está tocando las doce.

The church bell is ringing twelve (o'clock).

Ahora le está tocando a Juan hacer la limpieza.

Now it is Juan's turn to do the cleaning. (Lit: Now it is touching Juan to do the cleaning.)

Impersonal Duty (Tocarle a alguien)

When used with an indirect object pronoun (like 'le' or 'me'), 'tocar' means something is a duty or obligation for that person. 'Me está tocando' means 'It is my turn/duty right now'.

llamando

yah-MAHN-doh/ʝaˈman.do/

verbB1
This is used specifically when the knocking is directed at a door to announce one's presence or request entry.
A close-up view of a hand with a slightly clenched fist knocking on a plain wooden door.

Examples

Oigo ruido, alguien está llamando a la puerta principal.

I hear noise, someone is knocking at the main door.

La ambulancia está llamando la atención con su sirena.

The ambulance is drawing attention with its siren (by calling/sounding the alarm).

Knocking vs. Phoning

When 'llamar' means 'knocking,' it almost always needs the little word 'a' (like 'at' in English) before the thing being knocked on: 'llamando a la puerta'.

golpeando

gohl-peh-AHN-doh/golpeˈando/

verb (Gerund)A2
Use this for a more forceful or general 'hitting' sound, which can include knocking, but also hitting objects.
A simple cartoon hand making contact with a brown wooden door, indicating knocking.

Examples

Escuché a alguien golpeando la entrada principal.

I heard someone knocking at the main entrance.

Estuvo golpeando por diez minutos hasta que abrieron.

He was knocking for ten minutes until they opened.

Choosing between 'tocando' and 'golpeando'

Learners often confuse 'tocando' and 'golpeando'. While both can mean 'knocking,' 'tocando' is the most standard and specific term for knocking on a door. 'Golpeando' implies a more general hitting or striking action, which might be too strong or imprecise for simply knocking.

Related Translations

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