How to Say "hollow rhetoric" in Spanish
The Spanish word for “hollow rhetoric” is “retórica” — C1 level.
English → SpanishC1
nounC1
language that sounds good but lacks substance

Examples
Sus promesas son pura retórica; no hay planes reales.
His promises are pure rhetoric; there are no real plans.
Basta de retórica, necesitamos hechos concretos.
Enough with the empty talk, we need concrete facts.
Using 'Pura'
When 'retórica' is used negatively, it is very common to pair it with 'pura' (pure) to mean 'nothing but talk'.
Negative Contexts
Mistake: “Using 'retórica' thinking it's always a compliment.”
Correction: In modern conversation, calling something 'retórica' is often a criticism meaning it lacks honesty or substance.
Related Translations
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