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olla

OY-yah/ˈoʝa/

“olla” means “pot” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

pot

Also: saucepan, vessel
NounfA1
Latin America
A large, round ceramic cooking pot with two handles and a lid, sitting on a wooden surface.

📝 In Action

Pon la olla en el fuego para hervir el agua.

A1

Put the pot on the stove to boil the water.

Necesito una olla más grande para la sopa.

A1

I need a bigger pot for the soup.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • cacerola (saucepan)
  • puchero (stew pot)

Common Collocations

  • olla a presión – pressure cooker
  • tapa de la olla – pot lid

head

Also: marbles
NounfB2informal
Spain
A simple silhouette of a human head with a glowing lightbulb inside it to represent an idea.

📝 In Action

¡Se te ha ido la olla por completo!

B2

You have completely lost your mind!

No me comas la olla con tus problemas.

C1

Don't get in my head with your problems.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Idioms & Expressions

  • irse la olla – To lose one's train of thought or go crazy
  • comer la olla – To try to brainwash someone or talk too much to them

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "olla" in Spanish:

head→marbles→pot→saucepan→vessel→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: olla

Question 1 of 2

If someone says 'Se me ha ido la olla,' what happened?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
ollita(little pot) — Noun
ollero(potter) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin word 'olla' (sometimes 'aula'), which referred to a jar, pot, or even a funeral urn.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: olhaFrench: ouille

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'olla' the same as 'puchero'?

Not exactly. 'Olla' is the container, while 'puchero' often refers specifically to the clay pot or the heavy meat stew cooked inside it.

How do I pronounce the 'll' in 'olla'?

In most parts of the world, it sounds like the 'y' in 'yes'. In Argentina or Uruguay, it might sound like 'sh' or 'zh'.