Reductor de velocidad vs. tope vs. lomo de burro vs. policía acostado vs. resalto vs. badén
The vocabulary for a speed bump changes drastically depending on the Spanish-speaking country. While there is a formal international term, most regions use specific local slang, ranging from references to animal anatomy to sleeping law enforcement. Note that while reductor de velocidad is understood everywhere, the other terms are highly regional markers.
Reductor de velocidad
B1This is the technical and formal term used internationally on road signs and in traffic laws. It literally translates to speed reducer. You will see this written in driver's manuals and official signage throughout the Spanish-speaking world.
La alcaldía instaló un reductor de velocidad cerca de la escuela.
(The city hall installed a speed bump near the school.)
Por favor, disminuya la marcha ante el reductor de velocidad.
(Please, slow down before the speed breaker.)
Los reductores de velocidad ayudan a prevenir accidentes.
(Speed breakers help to prevent accidents.)
Tope
B2This is the most common word used exclusively in Mexico. In Mexico, a tope is an essential part of driving vocabulary because they are extremely common on all types of roads.
¡Cuidado, hay un tope enorme adelante!
(Watch out, there is a huge speed bump ahead!)
Mi coche es muy bajo y siempre pega en los topes.
(My car is very low and it always hits the speed bumps.)
No vi el tope y pasé demasiado rápido.
(I didn't see the speed bump and went over it too fast.)
Lomo de burro
C1Used primarily in Argentina, Uruguay, and parts of Paraguay and Peru. The literal translation is donkey's back, referring to the shape of the hump.
En esta calle hay un lomo de burro en cada esquina.
(On this street, there is a speed bump at every corner.)
Frená antes de llegar al lomo de burro.
(Brake before you reach the speed bump.)
Pintaron el lomo de burro de amarillo para que se vea bien.
(They painted the speed bump yellow so it can be seen clearly.)
Policía acostado
C1A colorful idiom used in Venezuela, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico. It literally translates to lying-down policeman or sleeping policeman, implying that the bump acts as a passive traffic enforcer.
El taxista esquivó el policía acostado para no dañar el vehículo.
(The taxi driver dodged the speed bump to avoid damaging the vehicle.)
Han puesto un nuevo policía acostado en la entrada del barrio.
(They have put a new speed bump at the neighborhood entrance.)
Odio conducir por aquí, hay demasiados policías acostados.
(I hate driving around here, there are too many speed bumps.)
Resalto
C1This is the standard term used in Spain and is also found in official traffic engineering contexts in Colombia and Chile. It refers specifically to the raised protrusion on the pavement.
Al cruzar el pueblo, encontrarás varios resaltos.
(When crossing the town, you will find several speed bumps.)
El coche saltó bruscamente al pasar el resalto.
(The car jumped abruptly when going over the speed bump.)
La señal indica peligro por un resalto elevado.
(The sign indicates danger due to a raised speed bump.)
Badén
C1While often used colloquially in Spain and parts of the Andes to mean speed bump, the technical definition of badén is actually a dip or a depression in the road designed to let water pass (an inverted bump). However, because drivers must slow down for them, the word is frequently swapped with resalto in daily conversation.
El agua de lluvia corre por el badén.
(Rainwater runs through the dip.)
Pasa el badén despacio o tocarás el suelo con el parachoques.
(Go over the dip slowly or you will hit the ground with the bumper.)
Ese badén es muy profundo y peligroso.
(That dip is very deep and dangerous.)
Summary
To summarize: use reductor de velocidad if you want to be formal and technical anywhere. Use tope in Mexico, lomo de burro in the Southern Cone (Argentina/Uruguay), and policía acostado in the Caribbean and northern South America. In Spain, use resalto for a bump and badén for a dip, though locals often mix the two.