bola de helado
/bola de elado/from spelling rules
The English phrase "scoop of ice cream" is translated into Spanish as bola de helado.
This phrase is used to refer to a single rounded portion of ice cream created with a scooper.
What does it mean word for word?
The word bola literally means "ball", which reflects the spherical shape of a scoop of ice cream.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express multiple scoops, change bola to its plural form bolas to say bolas de helado.
Did you know?
- The word bola is a doublet of bula, which refers to a papal bull, because both come from the Latin bulla meaning a round seal.
- The word helado is actually the past participle of the verb helar, meaning it is grammatically closer to saying 'a ball of frozen' than 'a ball of ice cream'.
- The word bola can also be used in idioms like meter la bola, which in certain contexts can mean to confuse or trick someone, far removed from the dessert counter.
Examples in context
- ¿Me puede dar una bola de helado grande?Can I have a large scoop of ice cream, please?
- Quiero una bola pequeña de helado de chocolate.I want a small scoop of chocolate ice cream.
- Quiero una bola de helado de vainilla, por favor.I want one scoop of vanilla ice cream, please.
- Quiero una bola de helado de vainilla.I want a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
- ¿Me das una bola de helado de chocolate?Can you give me a scoop of chocolate ice cream?
- Esa bola de helado es muy grande.That scoop of ice cream is very big.
Example conversation
Mateo and Elena are at an ice cream shop.
- MateoElena, ¿qué sabor prefieres tú?Elena, which flavor do you prefer?
- ElenaQuiero una bola de helado de chocolate.I want one scoop of chocolate ice cream.
- MateoYo voy a pedir dos bolas de fresa.I am going to order two scoops of strawberry.
- ElenaEso suena perfecto, Mateo.That sounds perfect, Mateo.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bola, de, helado, CC BY-SA 4.0.
