Zoom
/θoom/from spelling rules
The English term 'zoom' in Spanish is expressed as Zoom.
The word Zoom is a loanword used to describe the manipulation of a display to magnify or shrink it. In digital and technical contexts, Spanish speakers often use the anglicism hacer zoom out to specifically mean shrinking a view.
Meaning: to manipulate a display so as to magnify or shrink it (verb)
Which one should you use?
While Zoom is used as a noun, there are traditional Spanish verbs for these actions: use acercar to mean 'to zoom in' (magnifying) and alejar to mean 'to zoom out' (shrinking the view).
How does it change in a sentence?
The English loanword Zoom is commonly used as a noun in Spanish, often preceded by the verb hacer to mean 'to zoom' (hacer zoom).
How do you pronounce it?
/θoom/
Did you know?
- While Zoom is the standard for screens, if you are using a physical camera lens, a Spanish speaker might use the word teleobjetivo to describe the zooming capability.
- In some regions, the phrase hacer zoom is used colloquially to mean 'examining something very closely' or 'scrutinizing' a detail in a physical object.
- In professional settings, like a news broadcast or a formal lecture, using the anglicism zoom might be viewed as a lack of linguistic precision. A more polished or 'correct' way to describe the action is to use the native verbs acercar or alejar.
Examples in context
- Vamos a tener una videoconferencia en ZoomWe are going to have a videoconference on Zoom
- Hoy voy a hacer una videollamada con mis amigosToday I am going to have a video call with my friends
Example conversation
Mateo and María are looking at a digital map on a tablet.
- MateoNo encuentro la calle en el mapa.I can't find the street on the map.
- MaríaPrueba hacer zoom en esta zona, Mateo.Try to zoom in on this area, Mateo.
- MateoAhora sí lo veo perfectamente.Now I see it perfectly.
- MaríaGenial, ya podemos ir.Great, now we can go.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
