palmada

pat

slap

la palmada(pahl-mah-dah)

feminine noun

1. (tap with the hand)

a. pat

Mario le dio una palmada en la espalda a Juan a modo de saludo.

Mario gave Juan a pat on his back as a greeting.

b. slap

Creamos un código secreto en el que una palmada era sí y dos no.

We designed a secret code in which one slap meant yes and two meant no.

2. (sound of striking both hands together)

a. clap

Me encantaría poder apagar las luces con una palmada.

I'd love to be able to switch off the lights with just a clap.

3. (sharp blow)

(Latin America)

a. slap

Mi madre me dio una palmada cuando era pequeño por contestarle mal.

My mother gave me a slap when I was little because I answered back to her.

b. smack

Que los padres peguen una palmada a sus hijos está mal visto.

Parents giving their children a smack is frowned upon.

las palmadas

plural noun

4. (applause)

a. clapping

Las palmadas pidiendo silencio del profesor no acallaron a los alumnos.

The teacher's clapping asking for silence didn't quiet the students.