What “Running with the Bulls” Means in Spanish (And How to Use It Naturally)


If you’ve ever typed “running with the bulls in Spanish” into Google, you’re probably looking for a clear, natural answer — not a textbook translation that feels awkward.

Maybe you're:

  • Planning a trip to Spain

  • Writing travel content

  • Learning Spanish

  • Creating educational material

  • Or just curious about the famous event

Here’s the simple, accurate explanation — written the way Americans actually search and speak.

The Correct Spanish Term

The most accurate and culturally correct word for “running with the bulls” is:

Encierro

This is the term people in Spain actually use.

While you can say:

Correr con los toros
(which literally means “to run with the bulls”)

native speakers usually refer to the event as an encierro.

If you're writing content, teaching Spanish, or describing the festival, encierro is the word you want.

Where Does It Happen?

The world-famous event takes place in Pamplona during the annual San Fermín festival.

Each morning of the festival, bulls are released into the streets. Participants run ahead of them along a designated route that ends in the city’s bullring.

The run itself lasts only a few minutes — but it’s intense, fast, and extremely dangerous.

Why It’s So Well Known in the U.S.

Many Americans first heard about running with the bulls through Ernest Hemingway, who wrote about the festival in The Sun Also Rises.

His writing helped introduce the event to a U.S. audience, and interest has remained strong ever since. Today, thousands of Americans travel to Spain every year to witness — or attempt — the run.

How to Pronounce It

For American English speakers:

  • Encierro → en-see-EH-roh

  • Correr con los toros → koh-REHR kohn lohs TOH-rohs

The rolled “r” sound in Spanish can be tricky, but even a soft American pronunciation is usually understood.

Is It the Same as Bullfighting?

No.

Running with the bulls (encierro) is a separate event from traditional bullfighting. The run ends at the bullring, where bullfights may happen later, but the street run itself is its own activity.

Understanding that distinction matters if you're writing accurate travel or cultural content.

Quick, Natural Answer

If someone asks:

“How do you say running with the bulls in Spanish?”

The best answer is:

Encierro.

If you’re explaining it more fully, you can say:

“It’s called an encierro — literally running with the bulls.”



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