Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| correr la voz | /koˌreɾ la ˈboθ/ /koˌreɾ la ˈbos/ |
| pasar la voz | /pasaɾ la boθ/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /pasaɾ la bos/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
| difundir el mensaje | /difundiɾ el mensaxe/ (from spelling rules) |
These phrases are used when you want to tell many people about something.
What does it mean word for word?
The idiom correr la voz literally translates to 'to run the voice'.
Which one should you use?
Correr la voz is a common idiomatic way to say 'spread the word'. In contrast, difundir el mensaje is more formal and more literal, meaning 'to disseminate the message'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Pasar la voz is a colloquial and common way to express the idea of spreading news or a message among a group of people. Difundir el mensaje is more formal, and you might also use the verb divulgar if you want to formally 'disclose' or 'make known' something.
How does it change in a sentence?
Because correr is a conjugated verb, you must change its form to match the subject and tense. For example, you might say corrió la voz (the word spread/ran) or correremos la voz (we will spread the word).
How do you pronounce it?
/koˌreɾ la ˈboθ/
Did you know?
- The formal verb difundir is a learned borrowing from the Latin diffundere, which literally means 'to pour out in different directions'.
- In some Spanish-speaking regions, pasar la voz can function as a specific command to alert someone to a danger or an opportunity immediately.
- The word voz does not just mean 'voice' in a literal sense, but can also refer to a 'call' or 'command' in certain historical and religious contexts.
Examples in context
- Por favor, corra la voz sobre nuestro próximo evento benéfico.Please spread the word about our upcoming charity event.
- Necesitamos divulgar esta propuesta a todos los miembros del consejo.We need to spread this proposal to all the board members.
- Oye, corre la bola de que habrá una fiesta de cumpleaños sorpresa para Ana.Hey, spread the word that there's going to be a surprise birthday party for Ana.
- Vieron el nuevo video de Miguel? ¡Pásalo a todos tus amigos!Did you see Miguel's new video? Spread it to all your friends!
- ¡Corre la voz! El concierto es gratis.Spread the word! The concert is free.
- Tenemos que correr la voz sobre la fiesta.We have to spread the word about the party.
- Él empezó a correr la voz rápidamente.He started to spread the word quickly.
Example conversation
Mateo and Lucía are discussing a community event.
- Mateo¿Puedes correr la voz sobre el evento?Can you spread the word about the event?
- LucíaSí, Mateo, lo haré con gusto.Yes, Mateo, I will do it gladly.
- MateoGracias, Lucía, es muy importante.Thanks, Lucía, it is very important.
- LucíaNo te preocupes, lo contaré a todos.Don't worry, I will tell everyone.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “spread the word” translations and entries correr la voz, 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 correr, difundir, el, la, mensaje, pasar, voz, CC BY-SA 4.0.
