Spanish word

bamba

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈbamba/

Meaning

  • feminine nounsneaker

Example

Compré unas bambas nuevas para correr.

I bought some new sneakers for running.

Illustration for bamba (sneaker)

More examples

¿Me prestas tus bambas para la caminata?

Could you lend me your sneakers for the walk?

Core concept

Pair of casual, lightweight athletic shoes.

Common phrases

  • cambiar las bambas

    replace the sneakers

  • caminar con bambas cómodas

    walk with comfortable sneakers

Similar words

zapatilla: Comfortable, lightweight shoes for casual sports, errands, and daily wear.
tenis: Casual athletic shoe prevalent in Latin American everyday dress and informal settings.
zapato: Footwear that covers and protects the foot, worn for both dressier and everyday occasions.

Definition in Spanish

Palabra informal que designa zapatillas deportivas cómodas para uso cotidiano.

Word origin

Slang of uncertain origin recorded in 20th-century Spanish as a colloquial name for comfortable sports shoes.

Usage tips

  • Used mainly in informal speech and normally plural (las bambas); in shops or with more formal company speakers prefer zapatillas or zapatos deportivos.

Opposites

  • zapato formalformal shoenoun

Word lists with this word