bomba
/ˈbõ.bɐ/feminine
The English word 'bomb' is bomba in Portuguese. Wiktionary also lists explosivo and coisa explosiva.
Meaning: device filled with explosives (noun)
Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| bomba | /ˈbõ.bɐ/ (Brazil) /ˈbõ.bɐ/ (Portugal) |
feminine |
| explosivo | /is.ploˈzi.vu/ (Brazil) /es.ploˈzi.vu/ (Brazil) |
masculine |
| coisa explosiva | feminine |
The term is used to refer to a device filled with explosives. You may see the phrase bomba relógio used to describe a literal timed explosive or figuratively to describe a situation that is about to explode or cause a crisis.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /ˈbõ.bɐ/. It has 2 syllables, and the stress is on the 1st syllable.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use the verb bombear to mean 'to bomb' (attack with explosives), but in Portuguese, bombear actually means 'to pump' (like a liquid or air). While bombear means to pump, bombardear is the correct verb to use when referring to an attack involving bombs or heavy artillery.
Did you know?
- In Brazilian student slang, a bomba is a very difficult exam or a course known for having a high failure rate.
- The word bomba is rooted in the Ancient Greek word bómbos, which originally described a 'booming' or 'buzzing' sound rather than a physical object.
- The word bomba can refer to a water pump, which is why the verb bombear means 'to pump' rather than 'to bomb'.
Examples in context
- Não é uma bomba.It's not a bomb.This sentence is useful for stating that something is not a bomba.Tatoeba #4726114 by ajdavidl, translation #2649003 by CK
- Eu tenho uma bomba.I have a bomb.This sentence is useful for stating that you have a bomba.Tatoeba #4902674 by Ricardo14, translation #2358662 by CK
- É uma bomba relógio.It's a time bomb.This sentence is useful for identifying a bomba as a time bomb.Tatoeba #5119178 by bill, translation #3826176 by CK
- A bomba estava cheia de material explosivo.The bomb was filled with explosive material.
- As autoridades desarmaram o artefato explosivo com cautela.The authorities carefully disarmed the explosive artifact.
- O filme de ação estava cheio de bombas explosivas.The action movie was full of explosive bombs.
- O país teme o desenvolvimento de uma bomba atómica pelo ditador.The country fears the dictator's development of an atomic bomb.
- 41 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A security guard is reporting a suspicious object to a colleague.
- JulianaEncontramos uma bomba perto do portão.We found a bomb near the gate.
- GabrielVocê tem certeza que é uma bomba?Are you sure it is a bomb?
- JulianaSim, Gabriel, parece muito perigoso.Yes, Gabriel, it looks very dangerous.
- GabrielVou chamar a polícia agora mesmo.I will call the police right now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bomb” translations and entries bomba, explosivo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bomba, coisa, explosivo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
