balones
football, basketball, Colombia
In Colombia sports "balls" are balones for football, basketball and volleyball, and pelotas for smaller ones like tennis or baseball. Bolas is a general word for round objects.
Meaning: round sports objects (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | Note |
|---|---|
| balones | football, basketball, Colombia |
| pelotas | tennis, baseball |
| bolas | general |
Colombians say el balón in football talk, as in patear el balón. Pelota is used in baseball, very popular on the Caribbean coast.
Which one should you use?
In Spain and Argentina pelota is used for most balls, while in Colombia balón is the usual word for a football.
What mistakes should you avoid?
The slang word huevos also refers to testicles in Colombia, so it is vulgar and not used for sports balls.
Did you know?
- In Colombia the word pelota is used a lot on the Caribbean coast, where baseball is a major sport.
Examples in context
- Los niños juegan con los balones.The kids are playing with the balls.
- Compré dos pelotas de tenis.I bought two tennis balls.
- Tiren los balones aquí.Throw the balls here.
Example conversation
Coach Mauricio talks to his young players at a field in Medellín, where Santiago is one of them.
- MauricioMuchachos, traigan los balones.Boys, bring the balls.
- Santiago¿Cuántos necesitamos?How many do we need?
- MauricioCuatro, y las pelotas de tenis también.Four, and the tennis balls too.
- SantiagoListo, profe.Okay, coach.
