bromear
“bromear” means “to joke” in Spanish (to say something funny or not serious).
to joke, to kid
Also: to mess around
📝 In Action
No te lo tomes en serio, solo estoy bromeando.
A2Don't take it seriously, I'm only joking.
A mi abuelo le encanta bromear con los camareros.
B1My grandfather loves to joke with the waiters.
Deja de bromear y concéntrate en el trabajo.
B1Stop messing around and concentrate on the work.
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Indicative
Present
Preterite
Imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: bromear
Question 1 of 3
How do you say 'I am joking with you'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Spanish noun 'broma'. Interestingly, 'broma' originally referred to a wood-eating shipworm (from Greek 'brōma', meaning 'food'). Because these worms were a nuisance and made ships heavy/slow, the word eventually came to describe a 'heavy' mood or a nuisance, and finally evolved into the modern sense of a 'joke' or 'jesting'.
First recorded: 18th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'bromear' the same as 'contar chistes'?
Not exactly. 'Bromear' is the act of kidding or teasing someone. 'Contar chistes' refers specifically to telling a structured joke with a punchline.
Can I use 'bromear' in formal situations?
Yes, 'bromear' is a neutral word, but use it carefully! It's better to ensure the other person knows you are not being serious.
What does '¿Bromeas?' mean?
It translates to 'Are you kidding?' or 'Are you joking?' and is used when you are surprised by something someone said.