bola de nieve
/bola de njebe/from spelling rules
The English phrase snow globe is translated into Spanish as bola de nieve.
This phrase refers to a decorative glass sphere containing a miniature scene and artificial snow that swirls when shaken. Note that when describing a Christmas-themed version, you might use the phrase Un globo de nieve navideño.
Which one should you use?
While bola de nieve is used for a snow globe, be aware that it is also the standard Spanish term for a snowball.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the phrase plural, you change the noun bola to bolas while keeping de nieve unchanged, resulting in bolas de nieve.
Did you know?
- The word bola comes from the Latin bulla, which referred to a round seal or amulet. This makes it a linguistic sibling to the English word 'bull', as in a papal bull.
- In Spanish, the word bola is used for a sphere made of a substance, like a bola de masa for dough, while pelota is used for a ball meant for playing.
Examples in context
- Compré una bola de nieve para mi escritorio.I bought a snow globe for my desk.
- La bola de nieve tiene un paisaje hermoso.The snow globe has a beautiful landscape.
- Mira cómo cae la nieve en esta bola de nieve.Look how the snow falls in this snow globe.
Example conversation
Alejandro and Sofía are looking at gifts in a shop.
- Alejandro¿Te gusta esta bola de nieve, Sofía?Do you like this snow globe, Sofía?
- SofíaSí, es una bola de nieve muy bonita.Yes, it is a very pretty snow globe.
- AlejandroEs un regalo perfecto para ella.It is a perfect gift for her.
- SofíaTienes mucha razón, Alejandro.You are right, Alejandro.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry bola de nieve, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bola, de, nieve, CC BY-SA 4.0.
