How to Say "to knock" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “to knock” is “llamar” — use 'llamar' when you are referring to the action of knocking on a door to get someone's attention..
llamar
/ya-mar//ʝaˈmaɾ/
Examples
Escuché que alguien llamaba a la puerta.
I heard someone knocking on the door.
Llamaron al timbre tres veces, pero no estábamos en casa.
They rang the doorbell three times, but we weren't home.
golpear
/gol-pe-ar//ɡolpeˈaɾ/
Examples
Tienes que golpear la pelota con fuerza para que cruce la red.
You have to hit the ball hard so it crosses the net.
Alguien está golpeando la puerta, ¿puedes abrir?
Someone is knocking on the door, can you open it?
El viento fuerte golpeaba las ventanas toda la noche.
The strong wind was striking the windows all night.
Direct Action Verb
Golpear is a transitive verb, meaning it needs a direct object (the thing receiving the action). For example: 'Golpeó el clavo' (He hit the nail).
Confusing 'Golpear' and 'Tocar'
Mistake: “Using 'tocar' when referring to a forceful impact ('Tocar la mesa').”
Correction: Use 'golpear' for forceful hitting or striking, and 'tocar' for light touching or playing an instrument. 'Golpea la mesa' (He hits the table).
Knocking vs. Hitting
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