The Spanish -azo/aza suffix is mostly used as an augmentative, an affix that reinforces the original word. It may also be used to denote a hit or blow given with (or to) the object to which the suffix is attached. Let's find some examples in our Spanish videos.

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In an installment of the Argentinian telenovela Yago, we hear the protagonist using the -azo/aza suffix as an augmentative, by far its most common use:

Fue un gustazo, Lucio.

It was a great pleasure, Lucio.

-El gusto fue mío.

-The pleasure was mine.

Captions 74-75, Yago - 8 Descubrimiento

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Other common examples of this use are solazo (harsh sun), golpanazo (big hit), and cuerpazo (big body, mostly used figuratively as "great body"). 

On the other hand, a puñetazo is a hit given with a puño (fist):
 

Yo digo que es como un puñetazo en el estómago.

I say it's like a punch in the stomach.

Caption 33, Festivaliando - Mono Núñez

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In the same fashion, a porrazo is a hit given with a porra (club, baton). Probably due to its unfortunate frequent use, porrazo has come to mean any kind of hit, even a self-inflicted one or one not precisely administered with a club:  

Me di un porrazo en la cabeza.
I gave myself a thump on the head.

Some other common examples of this use of the -azo/aza suffix are manazo (a hit given with the hand), cabezazo (a hit given with the head), trancazo (a hit given with a bar, or any hit by extension), cañonazo (a canyon shot), latigazo (a hit given with a whip), and codazo (a hit given with the elbow).

Now, as we previously said, the -azo/aza suffix is also used to express a hit given to the object represented by the word to which the suffix is appended. A good example is espaldarazo (a hit given to the back), which is only used figuratively to mean "support," as in te doy el espaldarazo (I give you my support). In Mexico and El Salvador, you will also hear the expression dar un madrazo (to hit the mother of something or someone, that is to hit really hard). Of course, as with many slang expressions that refer figuratively to motherhood, madrazo is not a polite expression, but extremely common:

A madrazos, en una palabra grosera.

With blows, to use a bad word.

Caption 37, ¡Tierra, Sí! - Atenco

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By extension madrazos are also insults, harsh words:
 

... sino que nos dice un madrazo.

... but rather he says something harsh to us.

Caption 5, Región mundo - Paso a paso

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Have you ever been hit by a rock or elbowed in a crowd? In Spanish, there's a specific suffix that perfectly captures these painful experiences. While the suffix -azo serves various purposes in Spanish (including forming augmentatives and expressing sudden actions), in this lesson we'll focus specifically on how it's used to describe painful impacts and blows.

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What Does the -azo Suffix Mean?

The suffix -azo in Spanish creates nouns that express sudden, forceful impacts or blows delivered by the object indicated in the root word. These derivations are incredibly productive in Spanish and very useful for describing everything from minor bumps to significant injuries.
Let's see it in action:

Además, si estás enamorado y no te dan bolilla... es como un piedrazo en la cabeza.

Besides, if you're in love and the other one doesn't give you a second thought... it's like getting hit on the head with a rock.

Captions 29-30, Verano Eterno Fiesta Grande - Part 6

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A piedrazo (from piedra - "stone") literally means "a blow delivered by a stone" - definitely something painful! By this same pattern, we can form many other impact-related words:

Bala (bullet) → Balazo (gunshot wound)
Codo (elbow) → Codazo (blow with an elbow; nudge)
Puño (fist) → Puñetazo (punch)
Cabeza (head) → Cabezazo (headbutt)
Rodilla (knee) → Rodillazo (knee strike)
Martillo (hammer) → Martillazo (hammer blow)

yo digo que es como un puñetazo en el estómago porque es vacío.

I say it's like a punch in the stomach because it's empty.

Captions 33-34, Festivaliando Mono Núñez - Part 8

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Body Parts and Painful Impacts

Many -azo words are derived from body parts and describe physical impacts:

Manazo (from mano - "hand"): a slap or hard blow with the hand
Espaldarazo (from espalda - "back"): a blow on the back, though it's also used figuratively to mean "support" or "endorsement"
Testarazo (from testa - "head"): a blow given with or to the head
Zarpazo (from zarpa - "claw"): a swipe or blow with claws

Weapons and Tools

Objects used to strike or hit also form common -azo words:

Bastonazo (from bastón - "cane/walking stick"): a blow with a cane
Escobazo (from escoba - "broom"): a hit with a broom
Palazo (from pala - "shovel"): a blow with a shovel
Zapatazo (from zapato - "shoe"): a blow delivered with a shoe

The Expressive Power of -azo

The -azo suffix gives Spanish a powerful way to express impacts and painful blows in a single, expressive word. While we've focused on the physical pain aspect, this versatile suffix can also express sudden events, loud noises, and even unexpected successes or failures.

Next time you bump your elbow or get nudged in a crowd, you'll know exactly how to describe that painful experience in Spanish—with the perfect -azo word!

Have you encountered any interesting -azo words in your Spanish learning journey? Can you think of other objects that could form painful words with -azo? Think about it and don't forget to send us your comments and questions!

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