benidorm: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowInformal/Neutral
Quick answer
What does “benidorm” mean?
A coastal city and municipality in the province of Alicante, Spain, on the Costa Blanca.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A coastal city and municipality in the province of Alicante, Spain, on the Costa Blanca.
A major mass tourism destination known for its high-rise hotels, beaches, nightlife, and popularity with British and other European tourists. Often used metonymically to represent package holiday culture or certain types of resort-based tourism.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The word is far more common in British English due to the city's popularity as a holiday destination for British tourists. Many Americans may be unfamiliar with the place name.
Connotations
In British English, it often evokes images of package holidays, beaches, nightlife, and a specific, sometimes stereotyped, tourist experience. In American English, if recognized, it is primarily a geographical reference without strong cultural connotations.
Frequency
Very high frequency in UK travel contexts and informal conversation; very low to negligible in general American English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “benidorm” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The bar had a very Benidorm feel to it.
- It was a bit of a Benidorm holiday.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in the travel and tourism industry (e.g., 'Our Benidorm package is our best seller.').
Academic
Appears in tourism studies, geography, or cultural studies discussing mass tourism and its impacts.
Everyday
Common in conversation about holidays, travel plans, or as a cultural reference point (e.g., 'Our holiday was more Benidorm than Bali.').
Technical
Not typically used in technical contexts outside of specific tourism or urban planning discussions.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “benidorm”
- Misspelling as 'Benidorm' (one n) or 'Benidorme'.
- Using it as a common noun (e.g., 'a benidorm') instead of a proper noun.
- Incorrect capitalisation.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, Benidorm is a city and municipality located in the province of Alicante, within the autonomous community of Valencia, Spain.
Benidorm became a hugely popular package holiday destination for British tourists starting in the 1960s due to its guaranteed sunshine, affordable prices, and development tailored to English-speaking visitors. Its fame is reinforced by media, including a long-running British TV sitcom named 'Benidorm'.
Informally in British English, yes. It can be used adjectivally to describe something that resembles the stereotypical atmosphere or style of a Benidorm-style holiday (e.g., 'a Benidorm vibe'). This is not formal usage.
In British English, it is pronounced /ˈbɛnɪdɔːm/ (BEN-ih-dorm). In American English, if used, it would typically be /ˈbɛnɪdɔːrm/ (BEN-ih-dorm), with a slightly rhotic 'r'.
A coastal city and municipality in the province of Alicante, Spain, on the Costa Blanca.
Benidorm is usually informal/neutral in register.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
BENny had a DREAM of a warm holiday – that dream was BENIDORM.
Conceptual Metaphor
BENIDORM IS A HOLIDAY FACTORY / BENIDORM IS A PLAYGROUND (emphasising its purpose-built, high-volume tourism nature).
Practice
Quiz
In British cultural discourse, what does 'Benidorm' often symbolise?