Spanish word

balón

Pronunciation

IPA/baˈlon/

Meaning

  • masculine nounball

Example

¿Me pasas el balón, por favor?

Can you pass me the ball, please?

Illustration for balón (ball)

More examples

El delantero disparó y el balón entró en la portería.

The forward took a shot, and the ball went into the goal.

Core concept

Large round ball filled with air for team sports.

Common phrases

  • pasar el balón

    pass the ball

  • botar el balón

    dribble the ball

  • disparar el balón

    shoot the ball

Similar words

pelota: Hand-sized play ball used for throwing, catching, or simple games.
bola: Any spherical item or round shape used in many contexts, not sport-specific.

Definition in Spanish

Pelota grande y generalmente rellena de aire, usada especialmente en deportes como el fútbol o el baloncesto.

Word origin

It derives from French ballon, a word for a blown-up object, with a cognate Italian ballone.

Usage tips

  • When talking about possession in games, tener el balón means controlling the ball in play rather than merely holding it.

Related words

Word lists with this word