Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| bomba de aire | /ˌbomba de ˈaiɾe/ | feminine |
| hinchador | /int͡ʃadoɾ/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
| inflador | /infladoɾ/ (from spelling rules) | masculine |
An air pump is a device used to move air either into or out of an object. The most common verb used to describe the action an air pump performs is inflar (to inflate).
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase bomba de aire is composed of bomba (pump) and de aire (of air).
Which one should you use?
While bomba de aire can refer to larger industrial or mechanical pumps, hinchador is often used for smaller, manual tools used to inflate objects.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, people generally use the term hinchador de aire to refer to an air pump. In Argentina, the term inflador is commonly used for an air pump.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the phrase bomba de aire plural, you pluralize the noun bomba to bombas, resulting in las bombas de aire. You do not change the aire part of the phrase.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˌbomba de ˈaiɾe/
Did you know?
Examples in context
- Necesito una bomba de aire para mi coche.I need an air pump for my car.
- Necesito una bomba de aire para la bicicleta.I need an air pump for the bicycle.
- La bomba de aire no funciona bien.The air pump is not working well.
- ¿Dónde puedo conseguir una bomba de aire?Where can I get an air pump?
Example conversation
Javier and María are preparing their bicycles for a trip.
- JavierMaría, ¿dónde está la bomba de aire?María, where is the air pump?
- MaríaEstá en el garaje, junto a las bicis.It's in the garage, next to the bikes.
- JavierGracias, voy a inflar mis ruedas ahora.Thanks, I'm going to inflate my tires now.
- MaríaPerfecto, yo también necesito usarla.Perfect, I need to use it too.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “air pump” translations and entries bomba de aire, hinchador, inflador, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries aire, bomba, de, hinchador, inflador, CC BY-SA 4.0.
