Spanish word

papeleta

Pronunciation

IPA/papeˈleta/

Meaning

  • feminine nounballot

Example

¿Ya entregaste tu papeleta en la mesa de votación?

Did you already turn in your ballot at the polling place?

Illustration for papeleta (ballot)

More examples

Antes de salir, recuerda echar la papeleta en la urna.

Before you leave, remember to drop your ballot into the ballot box.

Core concept

Small paper used to record a vote.

Common phrases

  • llenar la papeleta

    fill in the ballot

  • echar la papeleta

    drop the ballot into the ballot box

  • papeleta de votación

    ballot paper

Similar words

boleta: Paper form used in elections for voters to mark candidates or options.
urna: Container at polls for collecting and safeguarding cast ballots.
voto: Single act of support in an election that is recorded and tallied.

Definition in Spanish

Documento o papelito empleado en una votación para recoger la elección de un votante; asimismo puede referirse a un billete o papel pequeño utilizado en sorteos o rifas.

Word origin

The word comes from Spanish papel 'paper' plus the diminutive suffix -eta, originally meaning 'little paper' and ultimately from Latin papyrus.

Usage tips

  • In many Spanish-speaking areas boleta is the more common word for a ballot while papeleta often also denotes raffle or lottery tickets, so usage varies by country.

Other meanings

  • lottery ticketnoun
  • slip of papernoun

Word lists with this word