bolsa de hielo
/ˌbolsa de ˈʝelo/
In Spanish, a bag of ice is bolsa de hielo.
The phrase refers to a plastic bag filled with ice cubes or crushed ice.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of bolsa (bag), de (of) and hielo (ice).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, you can say Bolsa de cubitos de hielo for a bag of ice cubes. In Puerto Rico, the expression Pote de hielo is used to mean a container of ice.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the phrase plural, you pluralize the noun bolsa to bolsas while keeping de hielo the same, resulting in bolsas de hielo.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˌbolsa de ˈʝelo/
Did you know?
- The word bolsa can also refer to a 'stock exchange' in many Spanish-speaking countries, so context is vital when talking about finance versus groceries.
- In many Latin American countries, asking for hielo in a restaurant is often treated as a specific request because it may not be provided automatically with drinks.
- The word hielo shares the same Proto-Indo-European root as the English word 'gel', both stemming from the concept of cold or freezing.
Examples in context
- Podrías conseguirme una bolsa con hielo para la fiesta?Could you get me a bag of ice for the party?
- ¿Me pasas la bolsita de hielo? La bebida está caliente.Can you pass me the bag of ice? The drink is warm.
- Necesito una bolsa de hielo para mi rodilla.I need a bag of ice for my knee.
- Necesito una bolsa de hielo para la bebida.I need a bag of ice for the drink.
- ¿Puedes comprar una bolsa de hielo en el camino?Can you buy a bag of ice on the way?
- Hay una bolsa de hielo en el congelador.There is a bag of ice in the freezer.
Example conversation
Lucía and Mateo are preparing for a summer party at home.
- LucíaMateo, ¿tenemos una bolsa de hielo?Mateo, do we have a bag of ice?
- MateoNo, solo nos queda un poco de agua.No, we only have a little water left.
- LucíaEstá bien, iré a la tienda por una.Okay, I will go to the store for one.
- MateoGracias, Lucía, te lo agradezco mucho.Thanks, Lucía, I really appreciate it.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry bolsa de hielo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bolsa, de, hielo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
