How to Say "buzz" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “buzz” is “zumbido” — use 'zumbido' when referring to the literal sound made by insects, electrical devices, or even a low, continuous noise.
zumbido
thoom-BEE-dohθumˈbiðo
Examples
El zumbido del frigorífico me despierta por la noche.
The buzz of the refrigerator wakes me up at night.
El zumbido de las abejas en el jardín es muy relajante.
The buzz of the bees in the garden is very relaxing.
Hay un zumbido extraño en el motor del coche.
There is a strange hum in the car engine.
El zumbido constante de los ordenadores me distrae.
The constant drone of the computers distracts me.
Using 'haber' and 'escuchar'
To say 'there is a buzz,' use 'hay un zumbido.' To say you hear it, use 'escucho un zumbido' or 'oigo un zumbido.'
Masculine Gender
This word is masculine, so it always pairs with 'el', 'un', 'este', or 'mucho' (e.g., mucho zumbido).
Confusing the noun and the verb
Mistake: “El abeja está zumbido.”
Correction: La abeja está zumbando. (Use 'zumbido' for the sound itself, and 'zumbando' to describe the action of making the sound.)
animación
Examples
Hay mucha animación en la plaza del pueblo durante las fiestas.
There is a lot of buzz in the town square during the festivals.
murmullo
moor-MOO-yohmuɾˈmuʝo
Examples
Se oía un murmullo de conversaciones desde el pasillo.
A buzz of conversations could be heard from the hallway.
Se oía un murmullo constante en la biblioteca.
A constant murmur could be heard in the library.
El murmullo de la gente me impedía escuchar la música.
The murmur of the people prevented me from hearing the music.
Un murmullo de sorpresa recorrió la habitación cuando entró el actor.
A murmur of surprise went through the room when the actor entered.
Always Masculine
Since this word ends in 'o', it is masculine. You must always use 'el' or 'un' with it, never 'la' or 'una'.
Used with verbs of perception
You will often see this word paired with 'oír' (to hear) or 'escuchar' (to listen to) because it describes an auditory experience.
Confusing with 'Gossip'
Mistake: “Using 'murmullo' to mean the act of gossiping.”
Correction: Use 'murmuración' for the act of gossiping. 'Murmullo' refers only to the actual physical sound of the voices.
rumor
roo-MORruˈmoɾ
Examples
El rumor de que iban a cerrar la fábrica se extendió rápidamente.
The buzz that they were going to close the factory spread quickly.
El rumor del río era lo único que se oía en la noche.
The murmur of the river was the only thing heard at night.
Se levantó un rumor de voces cuando el presidente entró.
A buzz of voices rose when the president entered.
fiebre
fee-EH-breh'fje.βɾe
Examples
Hay una fiebre por los conciertos de K-pop en la ciudad.
There's a buzz for K-pop concerts in the city.
Hay una fiebre por las zapatillas deportivas en este barrio.
There is a craze for athletic shoes in this neighborhood.
La fiebre del Mundial de fútbol se siente en todas partes.
The World Cup fever is felt everywhere.
Muchos se mudaron a California durante la fiebre del oro.
Many people moved to California during the gold rush (gold fever).
Connecting the Craze
When using 'fiebre' to mean 'craze,' you usually connect it to the object of interest using the preposition 'por' (for) or 'de' (of/the).
marcha
MAR-chahˈmartʃa
Examples
Este barrio tiene mucha marcha los fines de semana.
This neighborhood has a lot of buzz on the weekends.
Este barrio tiene mucha marcha, siempre hay bares abiertos.
This neighborhood has a lot of nightlife/buzz, there are always bars open.
Nos fuimos de marcha hasta las tres de la mañana.
We went out partying until three in the morning.
Sound vs. Atmosphere
Related Translations
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