How to Say "marble" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “marble” is “bola” — use 'bola' when referring to a small, round object, typically a toy ball made of glass used in games..
English → Spanish
bola
/boh-lah//ˈbo.la/
nounA1general
Use 'bola' when referring to a small, round object, typically a toy ball made of glass used in games.
Examples
Los niños jugaban con bolas de canicas en el patio.
The children played with marbles in the yard.
El niño lanzó la bola muy alto.
The child threw the ball very high.
Necesitas una bola de cristal para saber el futuro.
You need a crystal ball to know the future.
Gender Check
Remember that 'bola' is always feminine. You must use 'la' or 'una' with it.
mármol
nounA2general
Use 'mármol' when referring to the natural stone used in construction and decoration, like for countertops or sculptures.
Examples
La encimera de la cocina es de mármol italiano.
The kitchen countertop is made of Italian marble.
Toy vs. Stone
The most common mistake is using 'mármol' when you mean the small glass toy. Remember, 'bola' (specifically 'canica' for the toy marble) refers to the game piece, while 'mármol' is always the rock.
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