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bola

bóla with stress marks

ball

noun BO-la Spanish origin Common

Also means

Bola is also slang for flattery or empty praise — 'nagbobola ka lang' means you are just buttering someone up.

Usage Note

Bola is a Spanish loanword for the ball used in sports and play, but it also carries a widely understood colloquial meaning: flattery or sweet talk. Context makes the meaning clear, and both senses are common across all registers.

Examples

Beginner

" Bilog ang bola. "

Natural Translation

The ball is round.

Literal Translation

Round the ball.

Intermediate

" Itapon mo ang bola dito! "

Natural Translation

Throw the ball here!

Literal Translation

Throw you the ball here.

Advanced

" Huwag kang maniwala sa bola niya dahil paboritong-paborito niyang magsinungaling para makuha ang gusto niya. "

Natural Translation

Don't believe his sweet talk because he absolutely loves to lie to get what he wants.

Literal Translation

Don't you believe at flattery his because most-favorite his to-lie so-that get the want his.

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