rebotar una pelota
/rebotaɾ una pelota/from spelling rules
The English phrase "bouncing a ball" is translated into Spanish as rebotar una pelota.
This phrase describes the action of making a ball hit the ground and spring back up.
Which one should you use?
You can also use the construction hacer rebotar una pelota to express the act of causing a ball to bounce.
How does it change in a sentence?
You can use the definite article to change the meaning: rebotar la pelota means "bouncing the ball" rather than "a ball". To express the continuous action of bouncing a ball, use the gerund form rebotando una pelota.
How do you pronounce it?
/rebotaɾ una pelota/
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, if you say you are botando something, you might be talking about throwing trash out rather than bouncing a toy.
- The word pelota shares a distant ancestry with the English word 'pill', as both stem from the Latin word for a small round object.
- In Spanish, rebotar can be used figuratively to describe someone being rejected or 'bounced' from a place, such as a nightclub or a party.
Examples in context
- Rebotando una pelota en el patioBouncing a ball in the yard
- Los niños están dando botes a una pelota en el parqueThe children are bouncing a ball in the park
- Estamos boteando una pelota en el jardínWe are bouncing a ball in the garden
- Los hermanos están jugando a botar la pelota en la calleThe siblings are playing at bouncing the ball on the street
- Me gusta rebotar una pelota en el parque.I like bouncing a ball in the park.
- ¿Puedes rebotar una pelota contra la pared?Can you bounce a ball against the wall?
Example conversation
Daniel and Elena are at the park.
- DanielElena, ¿quieres rebotar una pelota conmigo?Elena, do you want to bounce a ball with me?
- ElenaSí, Daniel, me parece una buena idea.Yes, Daniel, that sounds like a good idea.
- DanielMira cómo puedo rebotar una pelota muy alto.Look how I can bounce a ball very high.
- Elena¡Lo haces muy bien!You are doing it very well!
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries pelota, rebotar, una, CC BY-SA 4.0.
