Inklingo
← Dictionary

goma

go-ma/ˈɡo.ma/

eraser

Also: rubber
NounfA1
Mexico, Colombia
A pink rectangular eraser positioned on a white surface with a faint pencil line visible nearby, suggesting its function.

📝 In Action

Perdí mi goma y no puedo corregir el dibujo.

A1

I lost my eraser and can't correct the drawing.

Esta goma es muy suave y no rompe el papel.

A2

This eraser is very soft and doesn't tear the paper.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • borrador (eraser (common in Mexico and parts of Central America))
  • caucho (rubber material)

Common Collocations

  • goma de borrar – eraser (literally 'rubber for erasing')

rubber band

Also: elastic (band), gum
NounfA2
Mexico, Central America
A thick yellow rubber band stretched around a bundle of rolled-up white papers.

📝 In Action

Necesito una goma para atar este manojo de cables.

A2

I need a rubber band to tie up this bundle of cables.

Se me rompió la goma del pelo.

B1

My hair elastic broke.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • banda elástica (elastic band)
  • liga (rubber band (common in Mexico and parts of Central America))

Common Collocations

  • goma de pelo – hair tie/elastic

rubber

Also: tire
NounfB1
Central America, Caribbean, parts of South America
A large, smooth, thick, dark brown sheet of raw processed rubber material resting on a light surface.

📝 In Action

El suelo del gimnasio es de goma para amortiguar los golpes.

B1

The gym floor is made of rubber to cushion the impacts.

Tuvimos que parar porque se nos pinchó una goma.

B2

We had to stop because we got a flat tire. (Regional usage)

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • caucho (rubber (material, often more formal))
  • neumático (tire (standard term))

Common Collocations

  • gomaespuma – foam rubber
  • leche de goma – latex

hangover

NounfC1informal
Spain
A pale, simplistic figure sitting slumped at a table, holding their head in their hands, looking unwell. A glass of water is nearby.

📝 In Action

¡Qué goma tengo hoy! No debí beber tanto anoche.

C1

What a hangover I have today! I shouldn't have drunk so much last night.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • resaca (hangover (standard term in most of Latin America))

Common Collocations

  • tener goma – to have a hangover

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "goma" in Spanish:

eraser→gum→hangover→rubber→rubber band→tire→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: goma

Question 1 of 2

If someone in Madrid says, 'Tengo una goma terrible,' what do they mean?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
gomoso(gummy, rubbery) — Adjective
engomar(to glue with gum, to rubberize) — Verb
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

The word comes from the Late Latin term *gumma*, which referred to the sticky sap or resin that oozes from certain trees. This original meaning of 'gum' is the source for all the modern uses, from the material (rubber) to the products made from it (erasers, bands).

First recorded: Around the 13th century in Spanish.

Cognates (Related words)

Italian: gommaFrench: gommePortuguese: goma

💡 Master Spanish

Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does 'goma' have so many different meanings?

All the meanings are related to the original substance: rubber or gum. The word is used for the material itself, and also for three common objects made from it: the eraser, the rubber band, and, regionally, the tire.

If I ask for a 'goma' in a Latin American stationery store, what will I get?

You will most likely get an 'eraser' (a rubber for pencils). However, in Mexico, you might hear 'borrador' more often, and 'liga' for a rubber band.