ollas
/oʝas/from spelling rules
The English phrase "pots" is translated into Spanish as ollas.
The term ollas refers to deep metal or ceramic containers used for cooking food on a stove. You may also encounter the expression cada olla tiene su tapa, which literally means "every pot has its lid" and is used idiomatically to imply that there is someone for everyone.
Which one should you use?
While ollas refers specifically to deep cooking pots, the word sartenes refers to shallow frying pans. Additionally, a cacerola is a similar type of cooking pot that is often smaller or more specific than an olla.
How does it change in a sentence?
The singular form of the word is olla.
How do you pronounce it?
/oʝas/
Did you know?
- The word olla can be used as a slang term for a police station or a place of detention in certain Caribbean regions.
- In Colombia, the expression está en la olla literally means 'it is in the pot' but is used idiomatically to say someone is in a desperate or ruinous situation.
- In some Latin American countries, olla is used in the phrase olla común to describe a community kitchen where people pool resources to cook a single large pot of food during economic crises.
Examples in context
- Friega las ollas y las sartenes.Clean the pots and pans.This sentence is useful for practicing the command to clean both ollas and pans.Tatoeba #10060864 by manufrutos, translation #10059384 by sundown
- El pequeño niño de Tom y Mary adora sentarse en el suelo de la cocina y golpetear ollas y cacerolas.Tom and Mary's little boy loves sitting on the kitchen floor banging pots and pans.This sentence shows how a child might play by banging ollas and pans.Tatoeba #5175918 by albrusgher, translation #3880523 by patgfisher
- No olvides traer utensilios de cocina como cuchillos y ollas.Don't forget to bring kitchen utensils such as knives and cooking pots.This sentence helps you remember to bring kitchen utensils like knives and ollas.Tatoeba #963966 by hundo, translation #320958 by rul
- Necesito comprar ollas nuevas para mi cocina.I need to buy new pots for my kitchen.
- En mi restaurante usamos cazuelas tradicionales para preparar ciertos platos.In my restaurant, we use traditional pots to prepare certain dishes.
- Vamos a hacer una sopa en las ollitas pequeñas.Let's make soup in the small pots.
- Mis abuelos cocinan deliciosos guisos en los potecitos de cobre.My grandparents cook delicious stews in the small copper pots.
- Compré nuevas ollas de acero inoxidable y utensilios de cocina para equipar mi nuevo apartamento.I bought new stainless steel pots and kitchen utensils to outfit my new apartment.
- Mi mamá siempre me dice que cada olla tiene su tapa.My mom always tells me that every pot has its lid, meaning there's someone for everyone.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
In a kitchen while preparing a large meal.
- JavierNecesito dos ollas para la sopa.I need two pots for the soup.
- María¿Dónde están las ollas grandes, Javier?Where are the large pots, Javier?
- JavierEstán en el armario de la cocina.They are in the kitchen cupboard.
- MaríaPerfecto, las sacaré ahora mismo.Perfect, I will get them right now.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
