noun · verb · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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Received-Pronunciation:/ˈfeɪsˌpɑː(l)m/
General-American:/ˈfeɪsˌpɑ(l)m/
WisconsinRecorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
1
noun
Meaning 1
A gesture of bringing one or both palms to the face, with various interpretations including exasperation, chagrin, frustration, embarrassment (one's own or vicarious), etc.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
verb
Meaning 2
To bring the palm of one’s hand to one’s face as an expression of mixed humor and disbelief, disgust or shame; for example, when one is caught off-guard with a particularly bad pun.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
verb
Meaning 3
To bring one’s face down to one’s cupped hand or hands.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
From face + palm. Attested since at least 2001.
Across languages
Translations
39 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Catalan:
mà a la cara
— gesture
Finnish:
naamapalmu
— gesture
French:
main sur le front
— gesture
French:
facepalm
— gesture
German:
Stirnklatsch
— gesture
German:
Facepalm
— gesture
German:
Fazialpalmieren
— gesture
Hungarian:
facepalm
— gesture
Italian:
facepalm
— gesture
Italian:
mano sul volto
— gesture
Korean:
마른세수
(mareunsesu)
— gesture
Polish:
facepalm
— gesture
Russian:
фейспа́лм
(fɛjspálm)
— gesture
Russian:
фейспа́м
(fɛjspám)
— gesture
Spanish:
palmada facial
— gesture
Chinese Mandarin:
捂臉 /捂脸
(wǔliǎn)
— bring the palm of the hand to the face
Chinese Mandarin:
掩面
(yǎnmiàn)
— bring the palm of the hand to the face
Dutch:
het gezicht in de handen verbergen
— bring the palm of the hand to the face
Dutch:
zich voor de kop slaan
— bring the palm of the hand to the face
Finnish:
peittää kasvonsa kämmenellään
— bring the palm of the hand to the face
French:
se taper la main sur le front
— bring the palm of the hand to the face
French:
se taper la tête avec la main
— bring the palm of the hand to the face
German:
die Hände vors Gesicht schlagen
— bring the palm of the hand to the face
German:
fazialpalmieren
— bring the palm of the hand to the face
Hungarian:
fogja a fejét
— bring the palm of the hand to the face
Italian:
portare il palmo della mano al volto
— bring the palm of the hand to the face
Japanese:
手に顔を埋める
(te ni kao o uzumeru)
— bring the palm of the hand to the face
Korean:
손바닥을 얼굴에 대다
(sonbadag-eul eolgur-e daeda)
— bring the palm of the hand to the face
Malay:
tepuk dahi
— bring the palm of the hand to the face
Polish:
robić facepalma
— bring the palm of the hand to the face
Polish:
zrobić facepalma
— bring the palm of the hand to the face
Swedish:
ta sig för pannan
— bring the palm of the hand to the face
Dutch:
het gezicht in de handen verbergen
— bring the face to the palm of the hand
Finnish:
haudata kasvonsa kämmeniinsä
— bring the face to the palm of the hand
French:
se cacher la tête dans la main
— bring the face to the palm of the hand
Hungarian:
kezébe temeti arcát
— bring the face to the palm of the hand
Polish:
ukrywać twarz w dłoniach
— bring the face to the palm of the hand
Polish:
ukryć twarz w dłoniach
— bring the face to the palm of the hand
Russian:
прикры́ть лицо́ ладо́нью
(prikrýtʹ licó ladónʹju)
— bring the face to the palm of the hand
