mola
“mola” means “to be cool” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
to be cool
Also: to be great, to rule
📝 In Action
¡Tu coche nuevo mola un montón!
B1Your new car is so cool!
Me mola mucho este festival.
B1I really like this festival / This festival is great.
mola (textile art)
📝 In Action
Compré una mola hecha a mano en mi viaje a Panamá.
B2I bought a handmade mola during my trip to Panama.
sunfish
Also: ocean sunfish
📝 In Action
El pez mola es conocido por su forma circular y gran tamaño.
C2The sunfish is known for its circular shape and large size.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: mola
Question 1 of 2
How would you say 'This song is cool' in Spain?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
The slang verb likely comes from the Romani word 'molar' (to be worth/to help). The fish name comes from the Latin 'mola' (millstone) due to its gray, round appearance. The textile name comes from the Kuna language word for 'clothing'.
First recorded: Slang usage: 1980s (Spain); Latin roots: 12th century.
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'mola' used in Mexico?
Not really. Mexicans are more likely to use 'está padre' or 'está chido' to say something is cool.
Does 'mola' mean 'tooth'?
No. The word for a molar tooth is 'muela'. The adjective for something related to teeth is 'molar', but 'mola' is not used for teeth.