bolos
/BOH-lohs/
bowling
The sport of bowling, known as 'bolos' in Spanish.
π In Action
Me encanta jugar a los bolos los sΓ‘bados.
A1I love to go bowling on Saturdays.
ΒΏDΓ³nde estΓ‘ la pista de bolos?
A2Where is the bowling alley?
π‘ Grammar Points
Using 'A' with Sports
In Spanish, when you play a sport like 'bolos,' you must include the word 'a' and the article 'los'. So, you say 'jugar a los bolos' rather than just 'jugar bolos'.
β Usage Tips
Always Plural
Even though 'bowling' feels like one thing in English, in Spanish we almost always use the plural 'los bolos' to refer to the activity.
The physical pins used in the game are called 'bolos'.
π In Action
He derribado todos los bolos de un tiro.
A2I knocked down all the pins in one shot.
In a professional context, 'bolos' can refer to musical or theatrical gigs.
π In Action
La banda tiene muchos bolos este verano.
B2The band has many gigs this summer.
β Usage Tips
Professional Slang
Think of this as 'professional' slang. Musicians use it to talk about their work schedule.
In some regions, 'bolos' is used as an adjective to describe someone who is drunk.
π In Action
Ellos se pusieron muy bolos en la fiesta.
C1They got very drunk at the party.
βοΈ Quick Practice
π‘ Quick Quiz: bolos
Question 1 of 2
If you are in Madrid and a musician says they have a 'bolo' tonight, what are they doing?
π More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'bolos' the same as 'boliche'?
Mostly, yes. In Spain, people say 'bolos' for the game. In many parts of Latin America, 'boliche' is preferred for both the game and the bowling alley itself.
Can I use 'bolos' for a single pin?
No, if you are talking about just one pin, you should use the singular form 'el bolo'.