hipérbole

Hipérbole is a figure of speech that involves exaggeration for emphasis or effect. It is a rhetorical device commonly used in literature, poetry, and everyday speech to convey a strong emotion or to create a vivid image in the reader's or listener's mind. The term "hipérbole" comes from the Greek word meaning "excess."

This rhetorical technique is not meant to be taken literally. Instead, the speaker or writer uses an overstated statement to highlight a particular point. For example, saying "I'm so hungry I could eat a horse" is a hipérbole, as it is an impossible feat, but it effectively communicates extreme hunger. Similarly, "He's older than the hills" is another common hipérbole used to describe someone of advanced age.

Hipérbole serves to intensify meaning, add humor, or express strong feelings such as joy, anger, or sadness. It can make language more engaging and memorable. While often used for dramatic effect, it can also be employed subtly to add nuance to descriptions. In literature, hipérbole can contribute to the overall tone and style of a work, whether it be comic, tragic, or epic. Its effectiveness lies in the listener's or reader's understanding that the statement is not factually true but rather a creative exaggeration.