Inklingo
Dictionary

ballenas

ba-YE-nasbaˈʝenas

“ballenas” means “whales” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:

whalesA1Noun

large marine animals

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collar staysB2Noun

plastic or metal inserts for shirt collars

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you stiffenC2Verb

referring to the act of putting stays into a garment

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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 staysAlso: 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.

Subjunctive

Imperfect Subjunctive

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

Present Subjunctive

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

Indicative

Preterite

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

Imperfect

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

Present

yoballeno
túballenas
él/ella/ustedballena
nosotrosballenamos
vosotrosballenáis
ellos/ellas/ustedesballenan
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Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "ballenas" in Spanish:

collar stayswhalesyou 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
llenascenaspenas
📚 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).