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How to Say "explosives" in Spanish

English → Spanish

bombas

BOHM-bahs/ˈbombas/

nounB1general
Use 'bombas' when referring to explosive devices, such as bombs used in warfare or incidents.
Three spherical, black cartoon bombs with burning fuses stacked on a flat surface.

Examples

Las noticias reportaron que explotaron dos bombas en la capital.

The news reported that two bombs exploded in the capital.

El equipo de seguridad desactivó las bombas a tiempo.

The security team deactivated the bombs in time.

Gender Reminder

Even though this word ends in '-as', it is based on the feminine singular noun 'bomba'. Remember to use feminine adjectives with it: 'las bombas peligrosas'.

explosivos

ehk-sploh-SEE-bos/eks.ploˈsi.βos/

nounC1general
Use 'explosivos' when referring to the actual materials or substances designed to explode, like dynamite or gunpowder.
A stack of three red dynamite sticks tied together with rope, featuring a short, smoking fuse.

Examples

El ejército incautó varios tipos de explosivos en la frontera.

The army seized various types of explosives at the border.

Se requiere una licencia especial para transportar materiales explosivos.

A special license is required to transport explosive materials.

Masculine Plural Noun

This word is the plural form of the masculine noun 'el explosivo'. It refers to the materials themselves, like 'the explosives' in English.

Bombas vs. Explosivos

Learners often confuse 'bombas' and 'explosivos'. Remember that 'bombas' refers to the finished device (a bomb), while 'explosivos' refers to the raw material or substance that causes the explosion (explosives).

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