pelota

[peˈlot̪a]

/[peˈlot̪a]/ noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

The verdict

“pelota” is a regularly-used Spanish word, ranked #3,504 in Spanish word frequency and used as a noun.

#3,504
frequency rank, Spanish
6
letters
8
tracked misspellings
20
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Bola elástica utilizada esencialmente en deportes y otros juegos, generalmente esférica, pero también con otras formas, como la de rugby.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

pelota vs peta
67% similar
pelota vs plata
67% similar
pelota vs piloto
67% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for pelota
PropertyValue
Headwordpelota
LanguageSpanish
Part of speechNoun
IPA[peˈlot̪a]
Letters6
Frequency rank#3,504
Misspellings tracked8
Confusable pairs20
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “pelota” sits in Spanish frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). pelota lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The Spanish entry for pelota is 6 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as [peˈlot̪a]. Corpus data places it at rank #3,504 in overall Spanish word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 6 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 8 likely wrong-spelling variants for pelota, with forms such as "eplota", "pellota", and "peloat". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. It also participates in 20 confusable-pair relationships, "peta", "plata", "piloto", and more, where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

This headword's origin isn't recorded in our source data, so its spelling is easiest explained by how it's pronounced rather than where it came from. The correct Spanish form is pelota, spelled P-E-L-O-T-A.

Definition

  1. 1
    Bola elástica utilizada esencialmente en deportes y otros juegos, generalmente esférica, pero también con otras formas, como la de rugby.
  2. 2
    Juego practicado con este objeto. En particular, por metonimia, el deporte más practicado en cierta región, como el béisbol en el Caribe y el fútbol en muchos países.
  3. 3
    Cualquier objeto de forma esférica.
  4. 4
    Grupo de personas unidas por amistad o compañerismo.
  5. 5
    Cúmulo de problemas, deudas o inconvenientes que se juntan para generar angustia o preocupación.
  6. 6
    Tipo de batea o embarcación hecha de cuero para atravesar ríos y otras corrientes de agua.

Synonyms

balónbolaesféricobolaesfera

This word in other languages

ball(English)balle(Français)Ball(Deutsch)bola(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: eplota,pellota,peloat,pelotta,peltoa,peolta,pleota,ppelota

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of pelota - counted as single-character edits (an insertion, a deletion, or a substituted letter). The larger the bar, the easier the typo is to spot; one-edit slips are the ones that sneak past readers.

eplota2pellota1peloat2pelotta1peltoa2peolta2pleota2ppelota1
Edit distance from "pelota"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 Spanish corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "pelota"?
"pelota" is spelled P-E-L-O-T-A. The IPA pronunciation is [peˈlot̪a].
What does "pelota" mean?
As a noun, "pelota" means: Bola elástica utilizada esencialmente en deportes y otros juegos, generalmente esférica, pero también con otras formas, como la de rugby.
What words are commonly confused with "pelota"?
"pelota" is commonly confused with "peta", "plata", "piloto". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "pelota"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "pelota" is [peˈlot̪a]. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What language does "pelota" come from?
"pelota" is a Spanish word. PlainSpell covers definitions, pronunciations, and spelling data across English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and German.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “pelota”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct Spanish spelling is P-E-L-O-T-A - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as [peˈlot̪a] (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “peta” - see the side-by-side comparison. pelota vs peta
  • Browse more Spanish words and confusable pairs in the same reference. Spanish words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list