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How to Say "horde" in Spanish

English → Spanish

banda

/BAHN-dah//ˈbanda/

NounB1General
Use 'banda' when referring to a group that is organized, often with a negative connotation, like a criminal gang or a group of troublemakers.
A group of three figures wearing dark clothing and masks, huddled together secretly.

Examples

Una banda de ladrones asaltó el banco.

A horde of thieves robbed the bank.

La policía desmanteló una banda dedicada al robo de coches.

The police broke up a gang dedicated to car theft.

Toda la banda se reunió para ver el partido en casa de Lucas.

The whole crew (or 'bunch of friends') met up to watch the game at Lucas's house.

manada

/mah-NAH-dah//maˈnaða/

NounC1General
Choose 'manada' for a large, often disorganized and overwhelming mass of people, especially when they are unwelcome or causing a commotion, like a surge of tourists.
A dense collection of many stylized, diverse human figures standing shoulder-to-shoulder, illustrating a large, unorganized crowd.

Examples

Una manada de fans se abalanzó sobre el cantante.

A horde of fans rushed the singer.

Una manada de turistas invadió la plaza, gritando y haciendo fotos.

A horde of tourists invaded the square, shouting and taking photos.

Se movieron como una manada, sin escuchar a nadie.

They moved like a pack (or mob), without listening to anyone.

Banda vs. Manada for 'Horde'

The most common mistake is using 'banda' for any large group. Remember that 'banda' implies some level of organization or shared intent, even if negative, whereas 'manada' describes a more chaotic, undifferentiated mass.

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