Understanding the meanings and uses of "palma" and "palmo" in Spanish, from hand
Each week, we explore the nuances of similar Spanish words, and today, we’re measuring up "palma" (feminine) and "palmo" (masculine). While they may look alike, their meanings and usage vary significantly.
Palma: The More Common Choice
Among the two, "palma" is the more frequently used word. Here's what it can mean:
-
The Palm of Your Hand
- La besó en la palma. → He kissed her palm.
- Diana le puso el dinero en la palma. → Diana placed the money in the palm of his hand.
-
Applause and Clapping
- Todo el mundo batió sus palmas enérgicamente. Everyone clapped their hands enthusiastically.
- El sonido de las palmas. → The sound of the clapping or applause.
- Tocar las palmas means clapping rhythmically, as in:
- Los niños cantaban y tocaban las palmas. → The children sang and clapped in time.
-
Palm Trees and Leaves
- Es una palma. → It’s a palm tree.
- Las calles se adornaban con arcos de ramas verdes y palmas de cocotero. → The streets were decorated with arches made of greenery and coconut palm leaves.
Palmo: A Measure of Distance
"Palmo" is a traditional unit of measurement based on the span of an outstretched hand—from the tip of the thumb to the tip of the little finger, roughly 20 cm (about 8 inches).
- No pudo comprender lo que era, aunque estaba puesto delante de ella, a un palmo de su cara.
→ She couldn’t understand what it was, even though it was right in front of her, less than a foot from her face.
Final Thoughts
While "palma" is more versatile—relating to hands, applause, and palm trees—"palmo" serves a more specific role as a measurement. Now that you’ve got a grasp on these words, join us next week for another deep dive into Spanish vocabulary!
