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pum

poom/pum/

“pum” means “bang” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

bang, boom

Also: thud, pop
InterjectionA1informal
A colorful illustration of a drum being hit with a drumstick, showing impact lines.

📝 In Action

Estaba inflando el globo y, ¡pum!, explotó.

A1

I was blowing up the balloon and, pop!, it exploded.

¡Pum! La puerta se cerró de golpe.

A2

Bang! The door slammed shut.

Iba corriendo, tropecé y ¡pum!, al suelo.

B1

I was running, I tripped and thud!, down to the ground.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • catapum (kaboom)
  • pumba (thud/whack)

Common Collocations

  • hacer pum – to go bang / to explode
  • pum, pam – bang, bang (repetitive noise)

Idioms & Expressions

  • y de repente, ¡pum! – and then suddenly (used to add drama to a story)

bang

Also: thud
NounmB1informal
A simple illustration of a wooden hammer hitting a wooden peg.

📝 In Action

Se escuchó un pum muy fuerte en el garaje.

B1

A very loud bang was heard in the garage.

El pum del tambor me asustó.

B2

The boom of the drum scared me.

Cada vez que camina, se oye un pum rítmico.

C1

Every time he walks, a rhythmic thud is heard.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • estruendo (loud crash)
  • golpe (hit/blow)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • un pum seco – a dull thud

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "pum" in Spanish:

bang→boom→pop→thud→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: pum

Question 1 of 3

How would you say 'The balloon popped' using this word?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
catapum(kaboom) — Interjection
pumbas(repeated thuds) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
atúncomúnsegúnzoom
📚 Etymology▼

Onomatopoeic origin, imitating the sound of a blow, shot, or explosion.

First recorded: Documented in various forms since the early development of the language.

Cognates (Related words)

French: poumItalian: pum

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use 'boom' instead of 'pum' in Spanish?

You can, and people will understand you because of English movies, but 'pum' is the authentic Spanish version and sounds much more natural to native speakers.

Is 'pum' a 'real' word or just a sound?

It is a real word! It is officially recognized by the Spanish Royal Academy (RAE) as both an interjection and a noun.

Does 'pum' always mean something broke?

Not necessarily. It can mean a door slammed, someone fell, or even just a loud heartbeat in a comic book ('pum-pum').