bollo
/ˈboʝo/
The Spanish word for sweet roll is bollo.
The word bollo is used for various types of sweet, enriched breads, such as buns or pastries. While bollo can refer to sweet rolls, it is also used more broadly for any type of bun or roll, whether sweet or savory, depending on the context.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, sweet rolls are often called bollitos dulces.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of bollo is bollos.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈboʝo/
Did you know?
- Depending on the region, calling someone a bollo can be a colloquial way of calling them a soft or naive person.
- The word bollo shares its roots with the Latin word bulla, which refers to a bubble or a swelling. This reflects the way the dough rises and expands during the baking process.
- While bollo is common in Spain, speakers in other Spanish-speaking countries might use pan dulce or brioche to avoid confusion with local meanings.
Examples in context
- ¿Podría por favor traerme un bollo dulce?Could you please bring me a sweet roll?
- ¿Me pasas uno de esos bollos dulces?Can you pass me one of those sweet rolls?
- Me gusta comer un bollo de vainilla.I like to eat a vanilla sweet roll.
- Compré un bollo para el desayuno.I bought a sweet roll for breakfast.
- Este bollo está muy dulce.This sweet roll is very sweet.
Example conversation
Javier and Elena are at a bakery in the morning.
- Javier¿Quieres probar este bollo de canela?Do you want to try this cinnamon sweet roll?
- ElenaSí, parece delicioso, Javier.Yes, it looks delicious, Javier.
- JavierVoy a comprar uno para ti.I am going to buy one for you.
- ElenaMuchas gracias, eres muy amable.Thank you very much, you are very kind.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry bollo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bollo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
