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paloma

pah-LOH-mah/paˈloma/

pigeon, dove

Also: peace symbol
NounfA1
A grey and purple pigeon standing on a stone pavement.

📝 In Action

Hay muchas palomas en la plaza de la ciudad.

A1

There are many pigeons in the city square.

La paloma blanca es un símbolo de paz.

A1

The white dove is a symbol of peace.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • pichón (young pigeon)

Common Collocations

  • paloma de la paz – dove of peace
  • paloma mensajera – carrier pigeon

Idioms & Expressions

  • ser una paloma – to be a very gentle or innocent person

Paloma (cocktail)

NounfB1
A tall glass filled with a pink cocktail, a lime slice, and a salted rim.

📝 In Action

Mesero, ¿me trae una paloma con mucho hielo, por favor?

B1

Waiter, can you bring me a 'paloma' with lots of ice, please?

Word Connections

Common Collocations

  • beber una paloma – to drink a paloma

checkmark

NounfB2informal
Mexico
A bold green checkmark drawn on a piece of white paper.

📝 In Action

Saqué un diez porque todas mis respuestas tienen una paloma.

B2

I got a ten (perfect score) because all my answers have a checkmark.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • visto bueno (approval mark)
  • tilde (tick (regional))

Antonyms

  • tache (an 'X' mark)

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "paloma" in Spanish:

checkmark→dove→peace symbol→pigeon→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: paloma

Question 1 of 2

If you are in a school in Mexico and the teacher says you need a 'paloma', what do you need?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
palomita(little bird / popcorn) — Noun
palomar(pigeon house) — Noun
palomilla(moth / group of friends (regional)) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin word 'palumbes', which referred to wood pigeons.

First recorded: 10th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: pombaItalian: palombo

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'paloma' always feminine?

Yes, even if you are talking about a male bird, the word remains 'la paloma'. To be specific about the sex, you would say 'la paloma macho' or 'la paloma hembra'.

Does 'paloma' mean popcorn?

Close! 'Palomitas' (the small version of the word) is the most common way to say popcorn in Spain and Mexico.