botes

BOH-tehs

nounmA1

boats?small watercraft or rowing boats,cans / jars?containers for food, paint, or supplies

Also:bounces?the movement of a ball hitting the ground,the pot?the prize money in a game or lottery

📝 In Action

Vimos muchos botes de madera en el río.

We saw many wooden boats on the river.

Necesito tres botes de pintura blanca.

I need three cans of white paint.

La pelota dio varios botes antes de salir.

The ball took several bounces before going out.

Word Connections

Synonyms

barcas (small boats)
latas (cans)
saltos (jumps/bounces)

Common Collocations

bote salvavidas – lifeboat
bote de basura – trash can

Idioms & Expressions

estar de bote en bote – to be packed or completely full of people

💡 Grammar Points

Making it Plural

Since 'bote' ends in a vowel, you just add an 's' to make it plural: 'botes'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Boats vs. Ships

Mistake: "Using 'botes' for a large cruise ship."

Correction: Use 'barcos' for large ships. 'Botes' are specifically small vessels like rowboats or lifeboats.

⭐ Usage Tips

Kitchen Talk

In many countries, any cylindrical container (like a jam jar or a Pringles tube) is called a 'bote'.

✏️ 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

bote(a boat / a can) - noun

botar(to bounce / to throw away) - verb

botellón(large bottle) - noun

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.