estallar
“estallar” means “to explode” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
to explode, to burst
Also: to detonate
📝 In Action
La bomba estalló a medianoche, causando mucho pánico.
B1The bomb exploded at midnight, causing a lot of panic.
El globo estalló cuando lo infló demasiado.
A2The balloon burst when he inflated it too much.
to break out, to erupt
Also: to flare up
📝 In Action
La guerra estalló después de meses de tensión política.
B1The war broke out after months of political tension.
Un incendio estalló en el bosque anoche.
B2A fire broke out in the forest last night.
La crisis económica estalló sin previo aviso.
C1The economic crisis erupted without warning.
to burst into, to break out in
📝 In Action
Al escuchar la noticia, ella estalló en lágrimas.
B2Upon hearing the news, she burst into tears.
Toda la audiencia estalló en aplausos al final del concierto.
B2The entire audience broke out in applause at the end of the concert.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: estallar
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'estallar' in the figurative sense of 'breaking out'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Likely comes from the root 'tallo' (a stalk or shoot) combined with 'es-' (a prefix indicating movement outward or separation). The original meaning might have been related to the sound of something splitting or cracking suddenly, which evolved into 'to explode.'
First recorded: 15th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'estallar' used for small, soft sounds?
No. 'Estallar' usually implies a loud, sudden, and sometimes violent action. For small sounds or soft breaks, you would use verbs like 'romper' (to break) or 'chasquear' (to snap/click).
How do I say 'to burst into laughter'?
You must use the structure 'estallar en risas' or 'estallar a reír'. The most common is 'estallar en risas' (to burst into laughs/laughter).