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"Pelota" is a noun which is often translated as "ball", and "balón" is a noun which is also often translated as "ball". Learn more about the difference between "pelota" and "balón" below.
la pelota(
peh
-
loh
-
tah
)A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
b. football (soccer) (United Kingdom)
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
Le regalaron la pelota del Mundial 2014 para el cumpleaños.He was given the 2014 World Cup football for his birthday.
2. (colloquial) (sports) (Cuba) (Dominican Republic) (Venezuela)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Cuba
Regionalism used in the Dominican Republic
Regionalism used in Venezuela
3. (vulgar) (male genitalia)
A word or phrase that is crude, indecent, and generally rejected by society.
This means that the noun can be masculine or feminine, depending on the gender of the noun it refers to (e.g., el doctor, la doctora).
4. (colloquial) (flatterer) (Spain)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Spain
a. brownnoser (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Esa pelota otra vez anda haciéndole la rosca al jefe.That brownnoser is sucking up to the boss again.
las pelotas
A plural noun indicates that there is more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
b. guts (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Hace falta tener muchas pelotas para decir lo que piensas cuando nadie te apoya.It takes a lot of guts to speak your mind when nobody backs you.
6. (colloquial) (idiot) (Southern Cone)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. jerk (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Ese pelotas no hizo nada para ayudarme.That jerk did nothing to help me.
el balón(
bah
-
lohn
)A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
a. balloon
Alguien rompió un balón en el laboratorio de química.Someone broke a balloon in the chemistry lab.
a. cylinder
Utilizamos balones de nitrógeno para conservar las muestras.We use nitrogen cylinders to preserve the samples.
a. balloon
Los balones sirven para determinar la temperatura en capas más altas de la atmósfera.Balloons are used to measure the temperature at higher atmospheric levels.
5. (beer glass) (Argentina) (Bolivia) (Uruguay)
Regionalism used in Argentina
Regionalism used in Bolivia
Regionalism used in Uruguay
a. balloon glass
Me tomé muy rápido todo el balón de cerveza.I drank all the beer in the balloon glass very fast.
6. (colloquial) (overweight person) (Bolivia) (Ecuador)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Bolivia
Regionalism used in Ecuador
a. fatty (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Mi perro es un balón que no para de comer.My dog's a fatty who won't stop eating.
