bola de manteca
/bola de manteka/from spelling rules
The English phrase "tub of lard" is translated into Spanish as bola de manteca.
bola de manteca is used as a noun to describe a fat person.
Meaning: fat person (noun)
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
bola de manteca is an informal and insulting way to describe someone's body type.
Did you know?
- The word bola is a doublet of the word bula, meaning a papal bull, because both descend from the Latin word bulla.
- Beyond insults, the word bola appears in the common phrase meter la bola, which in some contexts can mean to confuse someone or trick them.
- In some Spanish-speaking regions, manteca refers specifically to pork lard, while in others it can be used for butter, which can change the imagined 'ingredient' of the insult.
Example conversation
Lucía and Daniel are arguing about their health habits.
- LucíaDeberías hacer ejercicio, Daniel.You should exercise, Daniel.
- DanielNo me hables así, no soy una bola de manteca.Don't talk to me like that, I'm not a tub of lard.
- LucíaSolo quiero que estés sano.I just want you to be healthy.
- DanielEstá bien, iré al gimnasio mañana.Fine, I will go to the gym tomorrow.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bola, de, manteca, CC BY-SA 4.0.
