Uses and Expressions with the Word “Palo” in Spanish

We’re back to the Spanish blog of El Rincón del Tándem school to talk about a word that’s going to “traer cola”, y no “para pegar el palo”. Yes, you may not understand what I have just told you but, at the end of the article, you will realize that in Spanish, “palo” is more than just a wooden object!

In the world of words, the noun “palo” is used in many expressions that go beyond its physical function and embrace various meanings, depending on the context. In today’s blog, we’re going to analize all the facets of the noun “palo” until we reduce it to a splinter. Don’t be afraid to dive into the adventure of learning Spanish with our school and its Spanish blog.

As we always do before exploring the meanings of a word, we consult the RAE (Royal Spanish Academy) to see all the definitions provided by its dictionary. In this case, RAE dictionary offers seveal meaning for “palo”, so we have chosen the most interesting and ones that are commonly used in everyday language, such as:

  • A piece of wood or another material, much longer than thick, generally cylindrical, and easy to handle.
  • A wooden stick or other material used as the handle of some tools. An example given is the broomstick, which was originally made of wood but can now be made of any other material, usually metal.
  • Each of the four suits in a deck of cards. If you’ve participated in any of our board game activities, you’ll know that the Spanish deck consists of 4 different “palos” (suits), which are “espadas” (swords), “oros” (coins), “bastos” (clubs), and “copas” (cups).
  • In soccer and other sports, “palo” refers to the ball bouncing off the goalpost. If you’ve ever been to a soccer game or walked in a park, you always hear children and not-so-children shouting “¡palo!” Now you know what they’re referring to.

Having seen the RAE definitions, let’s now analyze various expressions used with the noun “palo” that are commonly used in everyday speech. Some of them are old sayings that are less commonly used, but in general, they are known by everyone.

  • “Dar un palo”. “El equipo dio un palo al rival en su propia casa”. This expression is commonly used in sports when one team wins by a wide margin against the opponent. With the same expression, we can have a completely different meaning depending on the context. For example, the sentence “ha dado un palo en una joyería” means that a robbery has occurred.
  • “Llevarse un palo”.“Cuando vi la nota del examen me llevé un palo tremendo”. Just the opposite of the previous case, in this sentence, we are talking about disappointment. The speaker is saying that upon seeing the mark, she/he felt really disappointed.
  • “Dar palos de ciego”.“Estuve dando palos de ciego toda la tarde intentando arreglar mi ordenador y al final llamé al servicio técnico”. This expression refers to an action where we act without having specific knowledge of something, indicating that it’s easy to make mistakes or make wrong decisions.
  • “A palo seco”. “Se bebió el güisqui a palo seco”. This expression, as indicated by the RAE, is used when you consume a meal or a drink, without combining it  with anything else that may easy its intake. In colloquial terms, it’s mostly used with beverages.
  • “Andar a palos”. “Tus hermanos siempre andan a palos”. It’s very typical for siblings to always be fighting, which is exactly what this phrase means.
  • “No dar un palo al agua”. This expression is often used when someone doesn’t want to work or do anything (like studying).
  • “Me da palo”.“Me da palo ir con mi madre de compras”. This is one of the most current expressions and is widely used by young people. It indicates that something makes them feel embarrassed.

Finally, let’s look at two sayings from the extensive and frequently used Spanish proverbs repertorire:

  • “Que cada palo aguante su vela”. It means that each person should bear the consequences of their actions. It’s a phrase closely related to the sea, as it specifically mentions sails and sticks of the masts of ships.
  • “De tal palo, tal astilla”. Generally, character and habits are passed down from parents to children, and that’s exactly what this proverb indicates. It’s used when a child resembles their father or when two people are very similar in opinion or character.

As you may know, by understanding and using all these expressions, as a Spanish learner, you can enrich your vocabulary and improve your communication skills effectively in various contexts.

¡Qué no te dé palo usar estas frases en tu conversación! Get ready to impress your Spanish-speaking friends with your language skills!