pegarle-- to hit or spank?

The context would help considerably

Pegar can also have the meaning/sense of sticking (like glue), so that phrase could mean ?? something like the father is around his child a lot.

The context would help considerably, yes.

At least in spoken speach in Mexico, a spanking is usually referred to as a "nalgada" ("Le dio una nalgada," from "nalgas" or backside/bottom).

But if you are speaking about something habitual, it seems funny to say "El papa le da muchas nalgadas al nino," at least in written speach. The "problem" in Spanish vs. English is that English has a specific verb: "He spanks his child a lot," but you would be less likely to say "He gives him a lot of spankings." Hmmm.

As noted above, the context would matter.

What if it was: "El papá le pega con la mano y con un cinturón"?

#3 wrote, "But if you are speaking about something habitual, it seems funny to say 'El papa le da muchas nalgadas al nino,' at least in written speach. The 'problem' in Spanish vs. English is that English has a specific verb: 'He spanks his child a lot,' but you would be less likely to say 'He gives him a lot of spankings.' "

Yes, exactly.

Riverfrog: "speach" should be "speech"

Are you trying to express the idea that the child is beaten by his father? You could use "golpear": "El hombre golpea a su hijo." It is less ambiguous - to hit/beat/punch.

#6: Of course it should. I was quoting VR1 from post #3. For the record, though, I didn't catch it, either!

#7: I'm not trying to express anything. I'm trying to translate from Spanish into English. Thanks for your help.

Edited by: riverkfrog

Translating pegar to mean "hit" or "struck" is perfectly accceptable. What you wrote translates as,

El papá le pega al niño. The father strikes the child"

Corrected/Edited by: El_Gallo 12.19.07

Edited by: El_Gallo