botes
“botes” means “boats” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
boats, cans / jars
Also: bounces, the pot
📝 In Action
Vimos muchos botes de madera en el río.
A1We saw many wooden boats on the river.
Necesito tres botes de pintura blanca.
A2I need three cans of white paint.
La pelota dio varios botes antes de salir.
B1The ball took several bounces before going out.
(that) you bounce, (that) you throw away
Also: (that) you launch
📝 In Action
No quiero que botes la comida.
B1I don't want you to throw away the food.
Es importante que botes la pelota con fuerza.
B1It is important that you bounce the ball with force.
Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Indicative
Preterite
Imperfect
Present
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: botes
Question 1 of 2
If someone says '¡No botes esa caja!', what are they telling you?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
The noun 'bote' (boat) comes from Old English 'bāt'. The verb 'botar' (to bounce) comes from a Germanic word meaning 'to strike or push'.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'botes' the same as 'votos'?
They sound exactly the same in most parts of the Spanish-speaking world, but 'votos' refers to votes in an election, while 'botes' refers to boats, cans, or bounces.
When should I use 'barco' instead of 'bote'?
Use 'barco' for anything large (like a ship or a ferry). Use 'bote' for small things you could row or small emergency lifeboats.