bala
/ˈbala/
The English word bullet is translated into Spanish as bala.
bala is the most common and widely used term for bullet in Spanish.
Meaning: typography: printed symbol in the form of a solid circle (noun)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico and some Central American countries, you might hear balazo or plomazo to refer to a bullet, a gunshot or a bullet wound. In countries such as Venezuela and Colombia, chumbo is used as a slang term for a bullet.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈbala/
Did you know?
- The Spanish word bala shares its ancestor with the English word 'ball', as both stem from the concept of a small, round object.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, if someone says they have a 'bala de plata', they are not just talking about a silver bullet, but a metaphor for a definitive or perfect solution to a problem.
- The word bala can sometimes be used to describe a person who moves extremely quickly, much like a projectile, in very informal speech.
Examples in context
- La bala dio a su objetivo.The bullet found its mark.This sentence shows how bala can hit a target.Tatoeba #794359 by Shishir, translation #276758 by CM
- Una bala perforó el casco.A bullet pierced the helmet.This sentence shows how bala can pierce an object.Tatoeba #2192148 by marcelostockle, translation #276757 by CM
- Esta bala lleva tu nombre.This bullet has your name on it.This sentence uses bala in a metaphorical or descriptive way.Tatoeba #9099312 by rafaeldejesus8199, translation #9099316 by rafaeldejesus8199
- La bala salió disparada de la pistolaThe bullet was shot out of the gun.
- La policía encontró casquillos de plomo en la escena del crimenThe police found lead casings at the crime scene.
- Los delincuentes intercambiaron disparos y una de las pepas alcanzó a uno de los policíasThe criminals exchanged gunfire, and one of the bullets hit one of the police officers.
- 23 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Daniel and María are reviewing a digital document together.
- DanielMe gusta el diseño, pero falta una bala aquí.I like the design, but a bullet is missing here.
- MaríaTienes razón, Daniel. Voy a añadir la bala ahora.You are right, Daniel. I am going to add the bullet now.
- Daniel¿Puedes poner cada bala en un color diferente?Can you put each bullet in a different color?
- MaríaSí, María lo hará quedar muy profesional.Yes, María will make it look very professional.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry bala, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bala, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
