bola de maíz
/bola de maiθ/from spelling rules
The English phrase "corn ball" is translated into Spanish as bola de maíz.
bola de maíz refers to a food item made from corn that is shaped into a ball.
Is it said differently in some regions?
While bola de maíz refers to the food, other words are used to describe the English slang sense of being "corny." In Spain, the term cutre can be used to describe someone corny or tacky. In Mexico, ridículo is commonly used to express the idea of being corny.
How do you pronounce it?
/bola de maiθ/
Did you know?
- The Spanish word bola is a doublet of bula, which refers to a papal bull, as both evolved from the Latin word bulla.
- In some Spanish-speaking regions, the word bola is used in the idiom dar bola, which means to pay attention to someone or to flirt with them.
- The word maíz has its roots in the Caribbean, specifically from the Taíno language of the indigenous people of the Antilles.
Example conversation
Mateo and Sofia are at a street food market.
- MateoMira, venden una bola de maíz aquí.Look, they sell a corn ball here.
- SofíaSe ve deliciosa, vamos a comprar una.It looks delicious, let's buy one.
- MateoTe daré la mitad de mi bola de maíz.I will give you half of my corn ball.
- SofíaGracias, Mateo, eres muy amable.Thanks, Mateo, you are very kind.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bola, de, maíz, CC BY-SA 4.0.
