Inklingo

How to Say "burst" in Spanish

English → Spanish

pop

/pohp//pop/

nounB1informal
Use this word for the sound made when something suddenly breaks or explodes, like a balloon or a cork.
A red balloon bursting dramatically, with small pieces flying away, illustrating a sharp, sudden sound.

Examples

El globo hizo un pop y asustó al bebé.

The balloon made a pop and scared the baby.

Hizo un pop cuando abrimos la botella de cava.

It made a pop when we opened the bottle of sparkling wine.

Escuché el pop de los fuegos artificiales a lo lejos.

I heard the pop of the fireworks far away.

Sound Word

'Pop' is often used here as a way to write down the sound itself (an onomatopoeia), making it a very descriptive noun.

ruptura

roop-TOO-rah/rupˈtu.ɾa/

nounA2
Choose this word when referring to a physical break or fracture, especially of a bone, pipe, or container.
A high quality illustration of a brightly colored ceramic plate lying on a wooden table, clearly split into two distinct, separated pieces.

Examples

Hubo una ruptura en la tubería principal de agua.

There was a burst in the main water pipe.

El doctor confirmó la ruptura del hueso.

The doctor confirmed the fracture of the bone.

Tuvimos que reparar la ruptura en la tubería de agua.

We had to repair the break in the water pipe.

Using 'rotura' vs 'ruptura'

Mistake: “Using 'rotura' for a relationship breakup.”

Correction: 'Rotura' is often preferred for simple physical breaks (like a broken glass), while 'ruptura' is used for bone fractures, ligament tears, and all figurative breaks (relationships, diplomacy, etc.).

salva

SAHL-vah/ˈsalβa/

nounB2formal
Employ this term for a sudden, unified, and enthusiastic expression, most commonly a burst of applause or cheers.
A colorful storybook illustration showing three antique cannons firing simultaneously, creating large plumes of smoke.

Examples

El público estalló en una salva de aplausos al final de la película.

The audience erupted into a burst of applause at the end of the movie.

Al final de la obra, el público rompió en una salva de aplausos.

At the end of the play, the audience broke into a burst of applause.

El barco disparó una salva en honor al presidente.

The ship fired a salute in honor of the president.

Feminine Noun

Remember this noun is always feminine, requiring 'la' or 'una'. (e.g., 'una salva fuerte').

Sound vs. Physical Break

Learners often confuse 'pop' and 'ruptura' because both relate to things breaking. Remember that 'pop' specifically refers to the sound of bursting, while 'ruptura' describes the physical event of breaking or tearing.

Related Translations

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