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"Rollo" is a noun which is often translated as "roll", and "onda" is a noun which is often translated as "ripple". Learn more about the difference between "rollo" and "onda" below.
el rollo(
rroh
-
yoh
)A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
1. (cylinder)
a. roll
Pon un rollo de papel higiénico en el baño, por favor.Put a roll of toilet paper in the bathroom, please.
2. (colloquial) (fat)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. spare tire (colloquial) (United States)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in the United States
¡Mira este rollo! Tengo que hacer más ejercicio.Look at this spare tire! I need to do more exercise.
b. spare tyre (colloquial) (United Kingdom)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
Ese rollo es de toda la cerveza que te bebes.That spare tyre is from all the beer you drink.
c. fat roll
Debería ponerme a dieta. Ya tengo otro rollo más.I should go on a diet. I already have another fat roll.
3. (culinary)
a. roll
¿Me pasas los rollos y la mantequilla, por favor?Can you pass me the rolls and the butter, please?
5. (colloquial) (tedious thing or person)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
b. pain
Es un rollo tener que ir al ayuntamiento a hacer trámites.It's a pain having to go to city hall to take care of business.
c. drag (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Es un rollo presentar la declaración de impuestos.Filing your taxes is a drag.
d. bore
Raúl es un rollo, porque nunca deja de hablar de lo mismo.Raul is a bore, because he's always talking about the same thing.
6. (colloquial) (lie)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. story
Nos contó todo un rollo de que tendríamos el lugar más exclusivo, pero era mentira.He told us a whole story about how we would have the most exclusive place, but it was a lie.
7. (colloquial) (issue) (Spain)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Spain
a. thing
Viene Carlos a hablarnos de algún rollo de no sé qué.Carlos is coming to talk to us about something or other.
8. (colloquial) (long-winded speech) (Spain)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Spain
a. lecture (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
El dueño del club nos soltó un rollo sobre el peligro de las drogas.The club owner gave us a lecture on the dangers of drugs.
9. (colloquial) (interest) (Spain)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Spain
a. scene (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Gracias, pero los conciertos no son mi rollo.Thanks, but concerts aren't my scene.
10. (colloquial) (sensation) (Spain)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Spain
a. vibe (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
En este bar hay muy buen rollo. Los camareros son tan simpáticos.There's a good vibe in this bar. The waiters are so nice.
11. (colloquial) (romance) (Spain)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Spain
a. affair
¿Crees que es cierto que Gustavo haya tenido un rollo con su secretaria?Do you think it’s true that Gustavo had an affair with his secretary?
An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
12. (colloquial) (dull) (Spain)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Spain
la onda(
ohn
-
dah
)A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
a. wave
Las ondas de radio y las ondas de los rayos X tienen frecuencias distintas.Radio waves and X-ray waves have different frequencies.
a. wave
Le encantaba ver cómo el aire jugaba con las ondas de su cabello.He loved to see how the air played with the waves in her hair.
4. (colloquial) (sensation) (Latin America)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
a. vibe
En esta oficina hay mala onda, ¿verdad? - Sí, la gente le tiene mucho miedo al jefe.There's a bad vibe in this office, isn't there? - Yes, people are very afraid of the boss.
5. (colloquial) (meaning or hint)
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.
¿Me explicas otra vez este teorema, por favor? - No consigo agarrarle la onda.Can you explain this theorem again, please? - I can't get the hang of it.
Se lo he insinuado varias veces, pero no capta la onda.I've hinted at it several times, but he's not getting the message.
