castillo hinchable
/kastiʝo int͡ʃable/from spelling rules
The English phrase "bouncy castle" is castillo hinchable in Spanish.
An inflatable amusement structure for children to jump on.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of castillo (castle) and hinchable (inflatable).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In many Latin American countries, the adjective inflable is used instead of hinchable, resulting in the phrase castillo inflable. In Mexico and some parts of Latin America, brincolín is an informal term for a bouncy castle. In Puerto Rico and some Caribbean countries, brinca brinca is an informal term for a bouncy castle. In Mexico, children and adults often colloquially refer to these structures as brinca brinca.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form is castillos hinchables, where both the noun and the adjective take the plural suffix.
How do you pronounce it?
/kastiʝo intʃable/
Did you know?
- The Spanish verb hinchar can also mean 'to swell' or 'to brag', giving the word hinchable a hidden connection to pride or inflammation.
- If you use the word brinca brinca in Mexico, you are using a reduplicated verb form to create a noun.
- The word castillo comes from the Latin castellum, which was a diminutive form of castrum, meaning 'fort'.
Examples in context
- ¡Qué bien lucirá el castillo hinchable en la feria!The inflatable castle will look great at the fair!
- Vamos a organizar una fiesta de cumpleaños para los niños. ¿Qué te parece si alquilamos un brinca brinca?We're going to organize a birthday party for the children. What do you think if we rent a bouncy castle?
- El castillo hinchable es muy grande.The bouncy castle is very big.
- ¿Dónde está el castillo hinchable para los niños?Where is the bouncy castle for the children?
- Alquilamos un castillo hinchable para la fiesta.We rented a bouncy castle for the party.
Example conversation
Daniel and Sofía are at a child's birthday party.
- DanielSofía, mira ese castillo hinchable.Sofía, look at that bouncy castle.
- Sofía¡Es enorme! A los niños les encantará.It's huge! The kids will love it.
- Daniel¿Quieres ir tú también al castillo hinchable?Do you want to go to the bouncy castle too?
- SofíaNo, gracias, prefiero sentarme un rato.No, thanks, I prefer to sit down for a while.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries castillo, hinchable, CC BY-SA 4.0.
