le dio a la cara

Question

I am a nurse and have a lot of Cuban patients--when they are hit in the face or have some kind of injury I hear them say 'le dio en la cara' or 'le dio'...whatever body part is injured. I know they mean to say that they were hit in the face..etc. Has anyone ever heard 'dar' translated as a hit or injury?

Hello! Welcome to the forum... =) - NikkiLR, May 24, 2012

Answer 1

Yes and no.

• It is not because "dar" is translated as "hit" The word "hit" is "tácita" (Not written but you know it is there). --**The whole sentence should be, "Le dió un golpe en la cara", "Le dió una bofetada/cachetada en la cara", "Le dió un palazo en la cara", etc. Any of the "hit" words are "hidden" (Tácitas) but in the context, you know what kind of hit was used.

Answer 2

Yes, that usage is correct (check the R .A. E.). It can be used as "to cause harm to", but you need the "attacking" noun. If you leave the noun out, the phrase puts the accent on the bodily part that recieved the attack.

"él le dio un puñetazo en la cara" (He punched him in face)

"él le dio en la cara" (He punched him right-in-the-face)