# boba

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈboʊ.bə/ · frequency rank #33,539

## Definitions
1. Synonym of tapioca pearl.
2. Ellipsis of boba tea.
3. A breast, especially that of an adult or adolescent female human.

## Etymology
From Chinese 波霸 (bōbà), from Cantonese 波霸 (bo1 baa3, “tapioca pearls” [literally: “big balls]”), from 波 (bo1) (itself from English ball) and 霸 (baa3, “chief, top”).

## Easily confused with
- **boy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/boba-vs-boy)
- **box** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/boba-vs-box)
- **bow** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/boba-vs-bow)
- **boo** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/boba-vs-boo)
- **bra** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/boba-vs-bra)
- **bot** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/boba-vs-bot)
- **BON** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/boba-vs-bon)
- **Boi** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/boba-vs-boi)
- **bop** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/boba-vs-bop)
- **bog** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/boba-vs-bog)
- **BOM** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/boba-vs-bom)
- **bod** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/boba-vs-bod)
- **bor** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/boba-vs-bor)
- **BRB** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/boba-vs-brb)
- **bok** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/boba-vs-bok)
- **BSA** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/boba-vs-bsa)
- **bol** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/boba-vs-bol)
- **BPA** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/boba-vs-bpa)
- **Boe** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/boba-vs-boe)
- **bub** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/boba-vs-bub)

## Common misspellings (5)
`bboa`, `bboba`, `boab`, `bobba`, `obba`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/boba