trumpet (though more commonly as a synonym for a specific type of musical instrument)
Meaning and Usage
The word tromba in Spanish generally refers to a whirling column of air, especially in meteorological contexts, such as a tornado or a water spout. It can also be used to refer to certain types of instruments, particularly in music, such as trumpets.
Frequency of Use: The term is moderately common, especially in weather reports and descriptions of natural phenomena. It is often used more in written contexts, such as scientific or news articles, than in casual oral speech.
Example Sentences
La tromba de agua causó inundaciones en varias ciudades.
The water spout caused flooding in several cities.
Se observó una tromba marina cerca de la costa.
A water spout was observed near the coast.
El músico tocó una tromba en la orquesta.
The musician played a trumpet in the orchestra.
Idiomatic Expressions
The term tromba can also be found in certain idiomatic expressions in Spanish. Here are a few examples:
Estar a tromba (To be in a whirlwind)
Después de recibir tantas malas noticias, estaba a tromba emocionalmente.
After receiving so much bad news, I was emotionally in a whirlwind.
A toda tromba (At full speed)
Salimos de la casa a toda tromba para no llegar tarde.
We left the house at full speed to avoid being late.
Tromba de viento (Wind storm)
La tromba de viento derribó varios árboles en el parque.
The wind storm knocked down several trees in the park.
Etymology
The word tromba comes from the Latin turmā or tremula, relating to the idea of a whirlwind or whirlwind-like movement. Its association with noise likely relates to the sound an instrument makes, such as a trumpet.