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bola

boh-lah/ˈbo.la/

ball

Also: sphere, marble
NounfA1
A brightly colored, perfectly spherical ball resting on a grassy field.

📝 In Action

El niño lanzó la bola muy alto.

A1

The child threw the ball very high.

Necesitas una bola de cristal para saber el futuro.

B1

You need a crystal ball to know the future.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • pelota (ball (often larger/sports related))
  • esfera (sphere)

Common Collocations

  • una bola de nieve – a snowball
  • jugar a la bola – to play marbles

lie

Also: tall tale
NounfB1informal
MexicoSpain
A small figure whispering into another person's ear, and the whispered sound visually manifests as a disproportionately large, absurd object, symbolizing a lie.

📝 In Action

¡No me vengas con esa bola! Sé que no es verdad.

B1

Don't give me that lie! I know it's not true.

Se inventó una bola sobre por qué llegó tarde.

B2

He made up a tall tale about why he was late.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • echar una bola – to tell a lie

party

Also: fun
NounfB2informal
MexicoCentral America
Three cheerful figures wearing cone party hats, surrounded by colorful balloons and scattered confetti.

📝 In Action

¿Vamos a la bola este sábado en casa de Pedro?

B2

Are we going to the party this Saturday at Pedro's house?

¡Qué buena bola se armó anoche!

C1

What a great party/bash was put together last night!

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • fiesta (party (neutral))
  • pachanga (informal party)

Common Collocations

  • armar una bola – to throw a party

mess

Also: crowd
NounfC1informal
A chaotic tangle of thick, brightly colored yarn and rope creating a massive, complicated knot.

📝 In Action

No te metas en esa bola de problemas; es mejor ignorarlos.

C1

Don't get involved in that mess of problems; it's better to ignore them.

Toda la situación se hizo una bola, y nadie sabía cómo resolverlo.

C2

The whole situation got complicated (literally: became a ball), and nobody knew how to solve it.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Idioms & Expressions

  • Hacerse una bola – To get complicated, confusing, or tangled up (like a ball of yarn).
  • Darle bola a alguien – To pay attention to someone or something (often used negatively, meaning 'don't pay attention').

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "bola" in Spanish:

ball→crowd→fun→lie→marble→mess→party→sphere→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: bola

Question 1 of 2

If someone tells you, '¡Eso es pura bola!' (in Mexico), what are they saying?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
bolita(small ball, marble) — Noun
embolar(to polish shoes (regional); to confuse/complicate) — Verb
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

The word 'bola' comes from the Latin word *bulla*, which originally meant 'bubble' or 'small round object.' It is related to many words across languages that describe round shapes.

First recorded: Medieval Spanish (similar forms dating back to the 13th century)

Cognates (Related words)

Italian: pallaFrench: boule

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'bola' always feminine?

Yes, 'bola' is a feminine word, meaning you must always use 'la' or 'una' before it.

When should I use 'pelota' instead of 'bola'?

Use 'pelota' when referring to soft, inflated sports equipment (like a soccer ball or basketball). Use 'bola' for solid round objects (like a ball of yarn, a marble, or a cannonball).