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"Globo" is a noun which is often translated as "balloon", and "esfera" is a noun which is often translated as "sphere". Learn more about the difference between "globo" and "esfera" below.
el globo(
gloh
-
boh
)A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
2. (Earth)
5. (comic)
a. balloon
El globo sobre la cabeza de Robin decía: "Ay, Batman. Es Acertijo".The balloon over Robin's head said, "Yikes Batman. It's the Riddler."
6. (aviation)
a. balloon
Nos subimos en un globo por la costa y dejamos que el viento nos llevara a la falda de la montaña.We went up in a balloon near the coast and let the wind take us to the foothills.
7. (sports)
a. lob
Rogelio tiró un globo que pasó por encima de su oponente.Rogelio threw a lob over his opponent.
8. (lamp)
a. spherical glass lampshade
Las lámparas del jardín tienen los focos dentro de globos.The garden lamps have the bulbs inside of spherical glass lampshades.
9. (colloquial) (male contraceptive)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. rubber (colloquial) (United States)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in the United States
Yo no tengo sexo sin globo.I don't have sex without a rubber.
b. condom
Quedó encinta después de que el globo se rompiera.She got pregnant after the condom broke.
10. (colloquial) (drug or alcohol high)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Ese tío iba con un globo en la fiesta anoche.That guy was stoned at the party last night.
Te va a matar tu papá si te ve con ese globo.Your dad's going to kill you if he sees how high you are.
la esfera(
ehs
-
feh
-
rah
)A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
1. (shape)
a. sphere
Ya que tienen deformaciones, ni la tierra ni la luna son esferas perfectas.As they have some irregularities, neither the earth nor the moon are perfect spheres.
a. face
Creo que los relojes de pulsera con esfera redonda son muy elegantes.I think wristwatches with round faces are very elegant.
3. (area)
a. sphere
Al doctor Gómez le gusta leer sobre temas ajenos a su esfera de actividad normal.Doctor Gómez likes to read about things outside his usual sphere of activity.
b. field
Daniel se entusiasma mucho al hablar de los avances en la esfera de telecomunicaciones.Daniel gets very excited when talking about advances in the field of telecommunications.
a. circle
Los piercings no se aceptan en muchas esferas de la sociedad.Piercings are unacceptable in many social circles.
a. ball
Compramos unas esferas de vidrio para el árbol de Navidad.We bought some glass balls for the Christmas tree.
