The Spanish word 'bombazo' meaning 'big explosion' comes from combining two elements: the word 'bomba' (meaning 'bomb') and the augmentative suffix '-azo'. The word 'bomba' itself can be traced back to Latin 'bombus', meaning 'noise' or 'buzzing', which in turn comes from Ancient Greek 'βόμβος' (bombos), also meaning 'loud noise' or 'buzzing'. Over time, the meaning evolved from describing the sound of buzzing or loud noise to specifically referring to the explosive device and its resulting blast.

The most obvious related Spanish word is the simpler form 'bomba' meaning 'bomb'. Other common Spanish words using the same augmentative suffix '-azo' include 'golpazo' (a heavy blow), 'portazo' (a door slam), and 'exitazo' (a huge success). The suffix '-azo' is commonly used in Spanish to indicate something large, forceful, or intense.

English speakers might recognize the connection to words like 'bomb' and 'bombard', which share the same Greek-Latin ancestry. The onomatopoeic nature of the original Greek word 'βόμβος' (bombos) can also be heard in English words like 'boom' and 'bombastic', though these developed separately but with similar sound-meaning associations.