vs
QUICK ANSWER
"Is" is a form of "be", a copular verb which is often translated as "ser". "Ball" is a noun which is often translated as "la pelota". Learn more about the difference between "is" and "ball" below.
be(
bi
)A copular verb links the subject of a clause to the predicate (e.g., My brother is tall).
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
An impersonal verb is a verb with no apparent subject (e.g., Llueve en España.).
An auxiliary verb, or helper verb, is a conjugated verb that comes before a main verb and determines the main verb's tense, mood, or aspect (e.g., I have gone.).
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
I'm going to the party. - So am I.Voy a la fiesta. - Yo también.
It is a lovely day, isn't it?Es un día precioso, ¿verdad?
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
I don't know how much salt is to be added to the sauce.No sé cuánta sal hay que añadir a la salsa.
The assignment is to be done by next Thursday.La tarea tiene que estar para el jueves que viene.
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
My baby is due in three months.Mi bebé nacerá dentro de tres meses.
Tomorrow, I'm going to the dentist.Mañana voy al dentista.
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Had it not been for his family, he would have never become an artist.Si no fuera por su familia, nunca habría sido artista.
If I were you, I would not go.Yo en tu lugar, no iría.
ball(
bal
)A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
1. (sports)
b. el balón (M) (soccer, basketball)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
He shot the ball at the goalkeeper.Le chutó el balón al portero.
c. la bola (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
The way you rack the balls depends on which game of billiards you're playing.La forma en que se colocan las bolas depende del juego de billar que estés jugando.
2. (sport)
a. el beisbol (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
The children went to the park to play ball on the diamond.Los niños fueron al parque a jugar béisbol en el diamante.
4. (military)
5. (round mass)
a. el ovillo (M) (of wool, string)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
The cat was playing with a ball of wool.El gato jugaba con un ovillo de lana.
b. la bola (F) (of snow, dough)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
The children were having fun making balls out of paper and throwing them around the class.Los niños se estaban divirtiendo haciendo bolas de papel y tirándolas en clase.
6. (anatomy)
a. la base (F) (of thumb)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
I jabbed a nail through the ball of my thumb when I grabbed that old board.Se me hundió un clavo en la base del pulgar cuando agarré esa vieja tabla.
b. el tercio anterior del pie (M) (of foot)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
The balls of my feet were sore after jumping rope for an hour.Los tercios anteriores de los pies me dolían después de saltar a la cuerda por una hora.
c. el pulpejo (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
I use insoles that cushion the balls of my feet.Uso plantillas que me protegen los pulpejos.
8. (good time)
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
The whole family had a ball at the fun park.Toda la familia se divirtió en el parque de diversiones.
We had a ball last weekend with our cousins at the lake.Lo pasamos en grande el fin de semana pasado con nuestros primos en el lago.
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
9. (vulgar) (to have sex with) (United States)
A word or phrase that is crude, indecent, and generally rejected by society.
Regionalism used in the United States
a. cogerse a (vulgar) (Latin America)
A word or phrase that is crude, indecent, and generally rejected by society.
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
A couple summers ago, I balled a girl at a beach party.Hace un par de veranos, me cogí a una flaca en una fiesta en la playa.
b. echarse un polvo con (vulgar)
A word or phrase that is crude, indecent, and generally rejected by society.
I wouldn't mind balling his sister!¡No me importaría echarme un polvo con su hermana!
c. follarse a (vulgar) (Spain)
A word or phrase that is crude, indecent, and generally rejected by society.
Regionalism used in Spain
And that was the first time he ever balled a chick too!¡Y esa fue la primera vez que se folló a una tía!
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
10. (colloquial) (to play basketball) (United States)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in the United States
a. jugar al baloncesto
I went to ball on my birthday and made a three point shot.Fui a jugar al baloncesto en mi cumpleaños y anoté un tiro de tres puntos.
b. jugar al básquetbol (Latin America)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
I went to ball on the army base with my buddies and felt like I was at an NBA tryout.Fui a jugar al básquetbol en la base del ejército con mis compadres y me sentí como si estuviera en una prueba de la NBA.
balls
A plural noun indicates that there is more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
11. (vulgar) (testicles)
A word or phrase that is crude, indecent, and generally rejected by society.
a. las pelotas (F) (vulgar)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
His brother kicked him in the balls when they were playing.Su hermano le dio una patada en las pelotas cuando estaban jugando.
b. los huevos (M) (vulgar)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Mind my balls when you shoot!¡No me tires a los huevos!
c. los cojones (M) (vulgar)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Ouch! That hit my balls!¡Uy! ¡Me dio en los cojones!
a. los huevos (M) (vulgar)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Man, you have balls the size of the Empire State building!¡Vaya! ¡Tienes unos huevos del tamaño del Empire State!
b. los cojones (M) (vulgar)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
There's no denying that you have to have balls to do such a dangerous job.No se puede negar que hay que tener cojones para trabajar en algo tan peligroso.
13. (vulgar) (used to express annoyance or disapproval)
A word or phrase that is crude, indecent, and generally rejected by society.
b. huevadas (vulgar) (South America)
A word or phrase that is crude, indecent, and generally rejected by society.
Regionalism used in South America: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela
That's just balls!¡Son solo huevadas!
