polo
“polo” means “polo shirt” in Spanish. It has 4 different meanings depending on context:
polo shirt
Also: collared shirt
📝 In Action
Necesito comprar un polo de color blanco para el uniforme.
A1I need to buy a white polo shirt for the uniform.
Él siempre usa polos de manga corta en verano.
A2He always wears short-sleeved polo shirts in the summer.
popsicle
Also: ice pop
📝 In Action
Los niños pidieron un polo de fresa después de jugar.
A1The children asked for a strawberry popsicle after playing.
Este polo de naranja está muy refrescante.
A2This orange ice pop is very refreshing.
pole
Also: terminal
📝 In Action
El Polo Norte es el punto más septentrional de la Tierra.
B1The North Pole is the northernmost point on Earth.
La batería tiene un polo positivo y un polo negativo.
B2The battery has a positive pole and a negative pole.
polo
Also: water polo
📝 In Action
El equipo de polo ganó el campeonato nacional.
B1The polo team won the national championship.
Mi primo practica polo acuático los fines de semana.
B2My cousin practices water polo on the weekends.
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "polo" in Spanish:
collared shirt→ice pop→pole→polo→polo shirt→popsicle→terminal→water polo→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: polo
Question 1 of 2
Which of these sentences uses 'polo' in the sense of a garment?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word 'polo' actually has two main roots. The meaning referring to a geographic or magnetic pole comes from the Latin word *polus*, meaning 'axis' or 'end.' The meaning referring to the sport and the shirt comes from the Balti language (spoken in parts of Tibet and Pakistan), where *pulu* meant 'ball,' adopted into English and then Spanish.
First recorded: 16th century (geographic); 19th century (sport)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know which meaning of 'polo' is being used?
Context is key! If you hear 'polo norte' or 'polo sur,' it means the geographic pole. If you hear 'polo de fresa' (strawberry polo), it's the frozen treat. If someone is wearing one, it's the shirt.
Is 'polo' the same as 'camiseta'?
No. A 'camiseta' is a t-shirt (usually no collar or buttons). A 'polo' specifically refers to the collared shirt with a few buttons at the neck.