Definition
A portable electronic device that amplifies sound, typically used for addressing crowds or making announcements.
Etymology
American compound word from the 1950s, combining 'bull' (suggesting loud, powerful sound) and 'horn' (traditional sound-making device). The term reflects the device's association with forceful, attention-grabbing communication.
Kelly Says
The 'bullhorn' gets its name from the powerful, commanding sound of a bull's bellow, making it a perfect example of onomatopoetic metaphor in technology naming. Interestingly, this distinctly American term for a megaphone reveals cultural attitudes about communication - sometimes you need to be as loud and commanding as a bull.
Translations
AMአማርኛ
ማሰራጭ
mah-seh-rah-ch
ARالعربية
مكبر الصوت
mukabir al-sawt
CACatalà
megafonia
meh-gah-FOH-nee-ah
CSČeština
megafon
meh-gah-FOHN
DADansk
megafon
meh-gah-FOHN
DEDeutsch
Lautsprecher
LOWT-spreh-ker
ELΕλληνικά
μεγαφώνη
meh-gah-FOH-nee
ESEspañol
bocina
boh-SEE-nah
FISuomi
megafoni
meh-gah-FOH-nee
FRFrançais
mégaphone
meh-gah-FOHN
GUGU
ધ્વનિવર્ધક
dhvani-vardhak
HAHA
mikrofon
mee-kroh-FOHN
HIहिन्दी
मेगाफोन
megaphon
HUMagyar
mikrofon
mee-kroh-FOHN
IDBahasa Indonesia
pengeras suara
peh-NGEH-ras SOO-rah
IGIG
ịga ọkpọ
ee-gah OH-kpoh
ITItaliano
megafono
meh-gah-FOH-noh
KMKM
កម្មវិធីពង្រីកសម្លេង
kam-vi-thi piak sam-lehng
MRMR
मायक्रोफोन
myaikrofon
MSBahasa Melayu
pengeras suara
peh-NGEH-ras SOO-rah
MYမြန်မာ
အသံဖော်
ah-thun-hpaw
NLNederlands
megafoon
meh-gah-FOHN
NONorsk
megafon
meh-gah-FOHN
PAPA
ਮਾਈਕਰੋਫੋਨ
myaikrofon
PLPolski
megafon
meh-gah-FOHN
PTPortuguês
megafone
meh-gah-FOH-nee
RORomână
megafon
meh-gah-FOHN
RUРусский
мегафон
meh-gah-FOHN
SVSvenska
megafon
meh-gah-FOHN
SWKiswahili
kiongeza sauti
kee-oh-NGEH-zah SAH-oo-tee
TAதமிழ்
ஒலிபெருக்கி
oliperukki
TEతెలుగు
మెగాఫోన్
megaphon
THไทย
เครื่องขยายเสียง
khrueang khyai siang
TLTL
megaphone
meh-gah-FOHN
TRTürkçe
megafon
meh-gah-FOHN
UKУкраїнська
мегафон
meh-gah-FOHN
VITiếng Việt
loa phóng thanh
loh fohng thanh
ZUZU
umhlobo
oo-m-HLOH-boh