bombo
/ˈbombo/
In Spanish, the word for "hype" (promotion) is bombo.
If you want to express the act of promoting or creating hype, you can use the verb promocionar or more colloquial phrases like dar mucho bombo or meter bombo.
Meaning: promotion (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, bombo means "bass drum", which evokes the idea of using loud, repetitive noise to draw attention to something.
Which one should you use?
While bombo refers to the hype or the noise itself, promocionar is the standard, neutral verb used to mean "to promote".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The phrase dar mucho bombo is a colloquial way to say "to give a lot of hype" or to promote something with great enthusiasm.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈbombo/
When do people say it?
To express anticipation or eagerness, you might use expectación. For a formal context where you are eagerly awaiting an event or release, use anticipación. If you want to convey a sense of exhilaration or high excitement, the word euforia is appropriate.
Did you know?
- The word bombo comes from the Latin bombus, which describes a deep, humming, or booming sound. It shares an ancient root with the Greek word βόμβος, which is where we get the English word 'bomb'.
- The phrase dar bombo creates a mental image of a town crier or a parade drummer using a bass drum to gather a crowd in a public square.
- While English uses 'hype' for both the marketing and the feeling of excitement, Spanish uses bombo for the external noise and expectación for the public's feeling of anticipation.
Examples in context
- La expectación por la nueva película es enorme.The hype for the new movie is huge.
- La anticipación por el lanzamiento del nuevo producto es palpable.The hype surrounding the release of the new product is palpable.
- ¡Estoy eufórico por el partido de fútbol de mañana!I'm hyped for tomorrow's soccer match!
- Estoy muy emocionado/a por el próximo concierto de mi banda favorita.I'm really excited for my favorite band's upcoming concert.
- ¡Vamos, muchachos, pónganse las pilas para la fiesta de esta noche!Come on, guys, get hyped for tonight's party!
- La película tiene mucho bombo en redes sociales.The movie has a lot of hype on social media.
- Todo ese bombo no valió la pena.All that hype wasn't worth it.
Example conversation
Javier and Lucía are discussing a new restaurant in town.
- Javier¿Has visto todo el bombo de ese restaurante?Have you seen all the hype about that restaurant?
- LucíaSí, Javier, dicen que es increíble.Yes, Javier, they say it's incredible.
- JavierEspero que la comida sea tan buena como el bombo.I hope the food is as good as the hype.
- LucíaVamos a probarlo mañana para comprobarlo.Let's go try it tomorrow to check.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry bombo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bombo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
