Which one should you use?
While patear la pelota is a standard way to express the action, you may also use patear el balón. The word balón often implies a larger, more inflated object, such as a soccer ball, whereas pelota is a more general term for a ball.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In parts of Latin America, particularly in the Caribbean, pelota can be used as an alternative to fútbol when referring to the sport of kick ball.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase patear la pelota is in the infinitive form, used to express the concept of 'to kick the ball'. When speaking informally to someone in the present indicative, you can say pateas la pelota (you kick the ball). To describe a completed action in the past using the third-person singular preterite, use pateó la pelota (he/she kicked the ball).
How do you pronounce it?
/pateaɾ la pelota/
Did you know?
- The word pelota is a linguistic relative of the English word 'pill', as both trace back to the Latin word pila for a sphere.
- The verb patear is derived from pata, a word that can mean 'leg' but is most commonly used to describe an animal's 'paw'.
- If you are in the Caribbean and ask to play la pelota, you might end up playing baseball instead of soccer.
Examples in context
- Él pateó la pelota muy fuerte.He kicked the ball very hard.
- Él quiere patear la pelota muy fuerte.He wants to kick the ball very hard.
- ¿Puedes patear la pelota hacia mí?Can you kick the ball toward me?
Example conversation
Two friends are playing soccer in a local park.
- ElenaAlejandro, intenta patear la pelota con el pie izquierdo.Alejandro, try to kick the ball with your left foot.
- AlejandroEstá difícil, pero lo voy a intentar.It is difficult, but I am going to try.
- Elena¡Muy bien, lo hiciste!Very good, you did it!
- AlejandroGracias, Elena, ahora es mi turno de patear la pelota.Thanks, Elena, now it is my turn to kick the ball.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries la, patear, pelota, CC BY-SA 4.0.
