Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| badén | /baˈden/ | Spain, masculine |
| reductor de velocidad | /reduɡtoɾ de beloθidad/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /reduɡtoɾ de belosidad/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
masculine |
| banda sonora | /ˌbanda soˈnoɾa/ | Spain, feminine |
| chapa acostado | /t͡ʃapa akostado/ (from spelling rules) | Ecuador, masculine |
| giba | /ˈxiba/ | Peru, feminine |
| guardia tumbado | /ɡwaɾdja tumbado/ (from spelling rules) | Spain, masculine |
| lomo de burro | /ˌlomo de ˈburo/ | Argentina, Uruguay, masculine |
| lomo de toro | /ˌlomo de ˈtoɾo/ | Chile, masculine |
| policía acostado | /poliθia akostado/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /polisia akostado/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Venezuela, masculine |
| policía dormido | /poliθia doɾmido/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /polisia doɾmido/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
Costa Rica, masculine |
| policía muerto | /poliθia mweɾto/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /polisia mweɾto/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
Panama, Puerto Rico, masculine |
| rompemuelles | /ˌrompeˈmweʝes/ | Bolivia, Peru, masculine |
| tope | /ˈtope/ | Mexico, masculine |
| túmulo | /ˈtumulo/ | El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, masculine |
| baden | /baden/ (from spelling rules) | Cuba, masculine |
| rompemuelle | /rompemweʝe/ (from spelling rules) | Peru, masculine, alternative form |
The term refers to a transverse ridge in the road.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase reductor de velocidad literally translates to 'speed reducer'.
Which one should you use?
While badén is a standard term, other forms exist based on regional preference. Reductor de velocidad is a functional description, whereas terms like lomo de burro or lomo de toro are colloquial and descriptive of the bump's shape.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, use tope. In Argentina and Uruguay, it is colloquially called lomo de burro. In Chile, it is often called lomo de toro. In Spain, you may hear badén or guardia tumbado. In El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, the term is túmulo. In Bolivia and Peru, use rompemuelles or rompemuelle. In Peru, giba is also used. In Ecuador, use chapa acostado. In Costa Rica, use policía dormido. In Panama, Puerto Rico and Cuba, use policía muerto. In Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Nicaragua and Venezuela, use policía acostado. In Cuba, baden is also used.
How does it change in a sentence?
Badén and reductor de velocidad are masculine nouns. Giba is a feminine noun. Banda sonora is a feminine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
Badén is pronounced /baˈden/.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use banda sonora to refer to a speed bump, as this term means 'soundtrack'.
Did you know?
- In several Spanish-speaking countries, speed bumps are referred to as policía dormido or policía muerto, literally meaning a 'sleeping policeman' or a 'dead policeman'.
- The word badén traces its roots back to the Arabic word baṭin, which refers to something being 'belly-like' or 'internal'.
- The phrase rompemuelles used in Peru and Bolivia literally translates to 'spring-breaker'.
Examples in context
- No vayas tan rápido, que aquí hay un lomo de toro.Don't drive so fast, there's a speed bump here.
- Ten cuidado con el badén.Be careful with the speed bump.
- El coche saltó por el badén.The car jumped over the speed bump.
Example conversation
María and Javier are driving through a residential neighborhood.
- María¿Ves ese badén en la calle?Do you see that speed bump in the street?
- JavierSí, es muy alto.Yes, it is very high.
- MaríaBaja la velocidad para pasar.Slow down to go over it.
- JavierVale, voy despacio.Okay, I am going slowly.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “speed bump” translations and entries badén, banda sonora, giba, lomo de burro, lomo de toro, rompemuelles, tope, túmulo, baden, rompemuelle, 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 acostado, badén, banda, chapa, de, velocidad, CC BY-SA 4.0.
