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palo

stick

noun PAH-loh Rare

Origin: From Latin palus (stake, pole).

Also means

suit (cards)

Usage Note

Palo has a wide range of meanings: a wooden stick or club, one of the four suits in a Spanish deck of cards (palos: oros, copas, espadas, bastos), and colloquially a 'blow' or setback (qué palo = what a bummer, used in Spain). Do not confuse with árbol (tree) or rama (branch); palo refers to the cut, stick-like piece.

Examples

"El niño golpeó la piñata con un palo."

Natural Translation

The child hit the piñata with a stick.

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