bambalear

A rare variant of bambolear (to sway or wobble from side to side without falling over) — today almost entirely replaced by its more common twin. A learner is far more likely to encounter bambolear in speech or writing.

• La lámpara bambaleaba con cada golpe de viento. — The lamp swayed with every gust of wind.
• El bote bambaleaba sobre las olas. — The boat rocked on the waves.
• No uses bambalear en un examen; usa bambolear, la forma estándar. — Don't use bambalear on a test; use bambolear, the standard form.

A rarely used variant — bambolear is the form that appears in dictionaries and everyday speech, so default to that one.

Often confused with bambolear.