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ballenas

ba-YE-nas/baˈʝenas/

whales

NounfA1
A large blue whale swimming peacefully in a clear blue ocean with small bubbles.

📝 In Action

Vimos varias ballenas saltando en el océano.

A1

We saw several whales jumping in the ocean.

Las ballenas son animales muy inteligentes.

A1

Whales are very intelligent animals.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • cetáceos (cetaceans)

Common Collocations

  • ballenas jorobadas – humpback whales
  • ballenas azules – blue whales
  • canto de ballenas – whale song

collar stays

Also: whalebone / corset stays
NounfB2
A pair of thin, rectangular white plastic inserts used to keep shirt collars straight.

📝 In Action

Perdí las ballenas de mi camisa favorita.

B2

I lost the collar stays of my favorite shirt.

Antiguamente, los corsés llevaban ballenas de verdad.

C1

In the old days, corsets contained real whalebones.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • varillas (rods / stays)

Common Collocations

  • ballenas para cuello – collar stays

you stiffen

VerbC2regular arformal
A close-up of a person's hands sliding a thin stay into the small pocket of a shirt collar.
gerundballenando
past Participleballenado
infinitiveballenar

📝 In Action

Si ballenas el cuello, quedará más firme.

C2

If you put stays in the collar, it will be firmer.

🔄 Conjugations

subjunctive

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesballenaran
yoballenara
túballenaras
vosotrosballenarais
nosotrosballenáramos
él/ella/ustedballenara

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesballenen
yoballene
túballenes
vosotrosballenéis
nosotrosballenemos
él/ella/ustedballene

indicative

preterite

ellos/ellas/ustedesballenaron
yoballené
túballenaste
vosotrosballenasteis
nosotrosballenamos
él/ella/ustedballenó

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesballenaban
yoballenaba
túballenabas
vosotrosballenabais
nosotrosballenábamos
él/ella/ustedballenaba

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesballenan
yoballeno
túballenas
vosotrosballenáis
nosotrosballenamos
él/ella/ustedballena
View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "ballenas" in Spanish:

collar stays→whales→you stiffen→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: ballenas

Question 1 of 1

If you are looking at 'ballenas' in a clothing store, what are you likely looking at?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
ballena(whale (singular)) — Noun
ballenato(whale calf) — Noun
ballenero(whaler / whaling ship) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin word 'ballaena', which refers to the large sea mammal.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Latin: ballaenaPortuguese: baleias

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'ballenas' used for both male and female whales?

Yes, 'ballenas' is a feminine noun regardless of the animal's biological sex. To distinguish, you add 'macho' (male) or 'hembra' (female).