balacera
Mexico, everyday
In Mexico a shooting with several shots is a balacera. Tiroteo is the standard Spanish word and disparos means gunshots.
Meaning: firing of guns, gunfight (noun)
Ways to say it
| Mexican | Note |
|---|---|
| balacera | Mexico, everyday |
| tiroteo | neutral |
| disparos | neutral |
News reports in Mexico often say hubo una balacera for there was a shooting. A single shot is un disparo and the person who fires is el tirador.
Which one should you use?
Balacera stresses the exchange of many bullets. Tiroteo is used in the same way and is common in international news.
What mistakes should you avoid?
For a photo shoot Spanish does not use these words. You say sesión de fotos instead.
Did you know?
- Balacera is built from bala, meaning bullet.
Examples in context
- Se escuchó una balacera cerca del mercado.A shooting was heard near the market.
- Hubo un tiroteo en la avenida.There was a shooting on the avenue.
- Escuché varios disparos anoche.I heard several gunshots last night.
Example conversation
Two neighbors, Lalo and Verónica, talk in the street in Culiacán after a loud night.
- LaloVerónica, ¿oíste la balacera anoche?Verónica, did you hear the shooting last night?
- VerónicaSí, me asusté mucho.Yes, I got very scared.
- LaloYa está la policía en la esquina.The police are already on the corner.
