The Sicilian word “timpulata”, especially common in the dialect spoken in Palermo, refers to a slap — specifically, a blow delivered with an open hand, often to the cheek or the side of the head.
The term has ancient roots: it derives from the Greek verb “τύπτω” (týpto), meaning “to strike”. It also bears a resemblance to the Spanish “bofetada”, which also means slap. Like many Sicilian words, it reflects the island’s layered linguistic heritage, shaped by centuries of contact with Greek, Arabic, Spanish, and Norman cultures.
In Sicily, timpulata describes the act of slapping someone with the open hand — not necessarily in a playful or theatrical sense; more often than not, with real emotional or disciplinary intent.
There are regional variations of the term.
You might hear “timpuluni” or “boffa”, depending on the area. These all refer to some form of slap or blow, but carry different tones or intensities, as documented by local linguistic resources such as Wikizziunariu (a Sicilian dialect wiki).
“The Sermon of the Slaps”
One of the more curious uses of timpulata appears in traditional Sicilian religious rites.
During Holy Week, some communities once held a ritual known as the “predica delle timpulate” — literally, the sermon of the slaps. It referred to the moment in the Gospels when Jesus is struck during his trial.
In Sicily, this episode became the basis for a symbolic gesture, used as a kind of moral commentary or ritualized expression of communal correction and shared values.