"De golpe" is an adverbial phrase in Spanish.
/de ˈɡol.pe/
"De golpe" is used to describe an action or event that happens suddenly and unexpectedly. It conveys a sense of immediacy and a lack of gradual transition. This phrase is commonly used in both oral and written contexts, though it may appear slightly more frequently in conversational speech due to its informal nature.
De golpe, la luz se apagó y todos se quedaron en la oscuridad.
Suddenly, the light went out and everyone was left in the dark.
El niño se asustó de golpe cuando vio al perro grande.
The child was startled all of a sudden when he saw the big dog.
La noticia llegó de golpe, sin previo aviso.
The news arrived abruptly, without any prior notice.
Although "de golpe" is not inherently a part of many idiomatic expressions, it is frequently used in various contexts to express sudden changes or events. Below are some related phrase examples, incorporating the concept of suddenness.
Cambiar de golpe
Lo hizo sin pensarlo, cambiar de golpe su carrera fue una locura.
He did it without thinking; to suddenly change his career was madness.
De golpe y porrazo
De golpe y porrazo, todo lo que había trabajado se desvaneció.
All of a sudden, everything he had worked for vanished.
Se murió de golpe
El abuelo se murió de golpe, dejándonos a todos en shock.
Grandfather died suddenly, leaving all of us in shock.
The phrase "de golpe" originates from the Spanish word "golpe", which means "hit" or "blow". The term emphasizes the suddenness of an event, akin to a physical blow that occurs unexpectedly.
Synonyms: - De repente (suddenly) - De pronto (suddenly)
Antonyms: - Poco a poco (little by little) - Gradualmente (gradually)
This showcases "de golpe" as a prominent and effective expression conveying the notion of suddenness in the Spanish language.