ballena
/bah-YEH-nah/
whale
The primary meaning of ballena is 'whale,' referring to the large marine mammal.
📝 In Action
La ballena azul es el animal más grande que existe.
A1The blue whale is the largest animal that exists.
Durante el viaje, vimos una ballena saltando fuera del agua.
A2During the trip, we saw a whale jumping out of the water.
Las ballenas viajan miles de kilómetros para encontrar aguas cálidas.
B1Whales travel thousands of kilometers to find warm waters.
💡 Grammar Points
Feminine Noun Rule
Even though 'ballena' refers to both male and female whales, it is always a feminine noun, so you must use 'la' or 'una' before it.
⭐ Usage Tips
Specific Types
To talk about specific species, you combine 'ballena' with an adjective: 'ballena jorobada' (humpback whale) or 'ballena gris' (gray whale).
Informally, ballena can be used to describe a large, bulky vehicle, such as an oversized car or bus.
ballena(noun)
large vehicle
?informal, often a large car or bus
large person
?slang/informal, sometimes offensive
📝 In Action
No puedo estacionar mi coche aquí, es una ballena.
B2I can't park my car here, it's a whale (it's too huge).
El autobús que tomamos era una ballena vieja y ruidosa.
C1The bus we took was an old, noisy whale (a massive vehicle).
⭐ Usage Tips
Context is Key
Only use this meaning in very informal conversations or when you are sure the listener understands the regional slang. Stick to 'autobús grande' or 'coche enorme' in formal settings.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: ballena
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'ballena' in its figurative, informal meaning?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
¿Cómo se dice 'baby whale' en español?
The correct term is 'ballenato.' You would not use a diminutive ending like 'ballenita' for the baby.
¿Ballena es una palabra femenina o masculina?
It is always a feminine noun ('la ballena'), even if you are talking about a male whale. This is because the word's origin is feminine.