bala

See also: Appendix:Variations of "bala"

Languages (59)

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Page categories

Albanian

Noun

bala

inflection of balë:
1. definite nominative singular
2. indefinite nominative/accusative plural

Anyi

Verb

bala

to come

Asturian

Noun

bala f (plural bales)

bullet

Azerbaijani

Other scripts
Cyrillic		бала
Arabic		بالا

Etymology

From Proto-Turkic *bāla (“child”), which is etymologically related to baldız (“sister-in-law”).^[1] Cognate with Crimean Tatar bala, Uzbek bola, Turkish bala (dialectal), etc.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): [bɑˈɫɑ]
Audio (Baku): (file)
Hyphenation: ba‧la

Noun

bala (definite accusative balanı, plural balalar)

child
Synonym: uşaq
young of an animal

Declension

Declension of *bala*
	singular	plural
nominative	bala	balalar
definite accusative	balanı	balaları
dative	balaya	balalara
locative	balada	balalarda
ablative	baladan	balalardan
definite genitive	balanın	balaların

Possessive forms of *bala*
	nominative
	singular	plural
mənim (“my”)	balam	balalarım
sənin (“your”)	balan	balaların
onun (“his/her/its”)	balası	balaları
bizim (“our”)	balamız	balalarımız
sizin (“your”)	balanız	balalarınız
onların (“their”)	balası or balaları	balaları

	accusative
	singular	plural
mənim (“my”)	balamı	balalarımı
sənin (“your”)	balanı	balalarını
onun (“his/her/its”)	balasını	balalarını
bizim (“our”)	balamızı	balalarımızı
sizin (“your”)	balanızı	balalarınızı
onların (“their”)	balasını or balalarını	balalarını

	dative
	singular	plural
mənim (“my”)	balama	balalarıma
sənin (“your”)	balana	balalarına
onun (“his/her/its”)	balasına	balalarına
bizim (“our”)	balamıza	balalarımıza
sizin (“your”)	balanıza	balalarınıza
onların (“their”)	balasına or balalarına	balalarına

	locative
	singular	plural
mənim (“my”)	balamda	balalarımda
sənin (“your”)	balanda	balalarında
onun (“his/her/its”)	balasında	balalarında
bizim (“our”)	balamızda	balalarımızda
sizin (“your”)	balanızda	balalarınızda
onların (“their”)	balasında or balalarında	balalarında

	ablative
	singular	plural
mənim (“my”)	balamdan	balalarımdan
sənin (“your”)	balandan	balalarından
onun (“his/her/its”)	balasından	balalarından
bizim (“our”)	balamızdan	balalarımızdan
sizin (“your”)	balanızdan	balalarınızdan
onların (“their”)	balasından or balalarından	balalarından

	genitive
	singular	plural
mənim (“my”)	balamın	balalarımın
sənin (“your”)	balanın	balalarının
onun (“his/her/its”)	balasının	balalarının
bizim (“our”)	balamızın	balalarımızın
sizin (“your”)	balanızın	balalarınızın
onların (“their”)	balasının or balalarının	balalarının

Derived terms

balaca (“little”)
bala-bula

Descendants

→ Armenian: բալա (bala)
→ Khalaj: bala
→ Talysh: balə

References

Orucov, Əliheydər, editor (2006), “bala”, in Azərbaycan dilinin izahlı lüğəti [Explanatory Dictionary of the Azerbaijani Language]‎^[1] (in Azerbaijani), 2nd edition, volume 1, Baku: Şərq-Qərb, pages 211-212

^ Starostin, Sergei; Dybo, Anna; Mudrak, Oleg (2003), “*bāla-”, in Etymological dictionary of the Altaic languages (Handbuch der Orientalistik; VIII.8), Leiden; Cologne; New York: E.J. Brill

Balanta-Ganja

Noun

bala

balafon

Balinese

Etymology

Borrowed from Old Javanese bala (“strength, power; strong, powerful; troops, army”), from Sanskrit बल (bala, “power, strength”).

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ba.lə/
Rhymes: -alə
Hyphenation: ba‧la

Noun

bala (Balinese script ᬩᬮ)

troop, army

Derived terms

mabala

beleganjur

Bambara

Noun

bala

Bangi

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Bantu *-bád.

Verb

bala

to marry

Catalan

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): (Northern, Balearic, Central) [ˈba.lə]
IPA^(key): (Valencia, Northwestern) [ˈba.la]
Audio (Catalonia): (file)

Etymology 1

Borrowed from French balle.

Noun

bala f (plural bales)

bale
dues bales de paper ― two bales of paper

Etymology 2

Borrowed from Italian palla.

Noun

bala f (plural bales)

bullet
- 2019, “Sento”, in Energia fosca, performed by El Petit de Cal Eril:
  Coses inútils com les caixes o els bancs / Coses terribles com les bales o els tancs
  (please add an English translation of this quotation)
marble

Derived terms

Chavacano

Etymology

Inherited from Spanish bala (“bullet”).

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ˈbala/ [ˈba.la]
Rhymes: -la
Hyphenation: ba‧la

Noun

bála

bullet

Derived terms

bala perdida

Chichewa

Etymology 1

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ˈɓá.ɽa/

Noun

bála class 5 (plural mabála class 6)

wound, injury
defect, physical problem

Etymology 2

Borrowed from English bar.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ˈbá.ɽa/

Noun

bála class 5 (plural mabála class 6)

bar (establishment where alcoholic beverages can be sold)

Etymology 3

From Proto-Bantu *-bíada.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ˈɓa.ɽa/

Verb

-bala (infinitive kubála)

to bear, give birth

Derived terms

Verbal derivations:
- Passive: -badwa (“be born”)

Crimean Tatar

Noun

bala

child
foal

Declension

Declension of *bala*
nominative	bala
genitive	balanıñ
dative	balağa
accusative	balanı
locative	balada
ablative	baladan

References

Mirjejev, V. A.; Usejinov, S. M. (2002), Ukrajinsʹko-krymsʹkotatarsʹkyj slovnyk [Ukrainian – Crimean Tatar Dictionary]‎^[2], Simferopol: Dolya, →ISBN

Esperanto

Etymology

Etymology tree

Esperanto balo

Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂

Proto-Italic *-ā

Latin -ader.

▲

Latin -a

Italian -ader.

▲

Latin -a

Old Spanish -a

Spanish -ader.

Esperanto -a

Esperanto bala

From balo + -a.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ˈbala/
Rhymes: -ala
Syllabification: ba‧la

Adjective

bala (accusative singular balan, plural balaj, accusative plural balajn)

(attributive) ball (formal dance)
- 2001, Rita Valčiukaitė, “La 37an fojon en Baltio”, in La Ondo de Esperanto, numbers 8–9:
  Ĉiuvespere okazis prezentado de popolaj metioj (ceramiko, ligna skulptoarto, teksaĵoj ktp.), diversaj koncertoj, instruado de balaj dancoj kaj diskotekoj.
  (please add an English translation of this quotation)

Galician

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ˈbala/ [ˈba.lɐ]
Rhymes: -ala
Hyphenation: ba‧la

Noun

bala f (plural balas)

bullet

Derived terms

antibalas

Garo

Etymology

Likely related to bala. This etymology is incomplete. You can help Wiktionary by elaborating on the origins of this term.

Verb

bala

to blow

Iban

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ba.la/
Hyphenation: ba‧la

Noun

bala

group of people

Indonesian

Pronunciation

(Standard Indonesian) IPA^(key): /ˈbala/ [ˈba.la]
Rhymes: -ala
Syllabification: ba‧la

Etymology 1

From Malay bala, from Sanskrit बल (bala).

Noun

bala (plural bala-bala)

force, army
Synonyms: laskar, pasukan, prajurit, tentara

Derived terms

berbala-bala

Etymology 2

From Malay bala, from Arabic بَلَاء (balāʔ).

Noun

bala (plural bala-bala)

(uncommon) misfortune
Synonym: kesialan

Etymology 3

From Javanese ꦧꦭ (bala) or Balinese ᬩᬮ (bala). (This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Noun

bala (plural bala-bala)

25th wuku of the Pawukon calendar

Etymology 4

From Tombulu [Term?]. (This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Noun

bala (plural bala-bala)

(dialectal) birds that are deemed able to give signal through their movements or sound

Javanese

Romanization

bala

romanization of ꦧꦭ

Karaim

Etymology

From Proto-Turkic *bāla.

Noun

bala

child

References

N. A. Baskakov, S.M. Šapšala, editor (1973), “bala”, in Karaimsko-Russko-Polʹskij Slovarʹ [Karaim-Russian-Polish Dictionary], Moscow: Moskva, →ISBN

Karao

Noun

bala

(anatomy) lung

Kashubian

Alternative forms

bal

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *bʰel-der.

Proto-Germanic *balluz

Proto-West Germanic balluz

Old High German bal

Middle High German bal

German Ballbor.

Kashubian bala

Borrowed from German Ball.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ˈba.la/
Rhymes: -ala
Syllabification: ba‧la

Noun

bala f

ball
Synonym: pùczk

Declension

Declension of **bala**
	singular	plural
nominative	bala	bale
genitive	balë	bal(ów)
dative	balë	balóm
accusative	balã	bale
instrumental	balą	balama
locative	balë	balach
vocative	bala/balo	bale

Derived terms

nouns

balôrz

Keley-I Kallahan

Noun

bala

(anatomy) lung

Khalaj

Perso-Arabic		بالا

Etymology

Borrowed from Azerbaijani bala (“child”)

Pronunciation

(Kharrab) IPA^(key): [bala]

Noun

bala (definite accusative balañ, plural balalar)

child
Synonyms: bəççə, kâl, kôka

Declension

Declension of *bala*
	singular	plural
nominative	bala	balalar
genitive	balañ	balalarııñ
dative	balaqa	balalarqa
definite accusative	balañ	balaları
locative	balaça	balalarça
ablative	balada	balalarda
instrumental	balala	balalarla
equative	balavâra	balalarvâra

References

Doerfer, Gerhard (1980), Wörterbuch des Chaladsch (Dialekt von Charrab) [Khalaj dictionary] (in German), Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó

Latin

Pronunciation

(Classical Latin) IPA^(key): [ˈbaː.ɫaː]
(modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): [ˈbaː.la]

Verb

bālā

second-person singular present active imperative of bālō

References

"bala", in Charles du Fresne du Cange, Glossarium Mediæ et Infimæ Latinitatis (augmented edition with additions by D. P. Carpenterius, Adelungius and others, edited by Léopold Favre, 1883–1887)
“bala”, in Harry Thurston Peck, editor (1898), Harper’s Dictionary of Classical Antiquities, New York: Harper & Brothers

Limos Kalinga

Noun

bala

hot coals

Lithuanian

Lithuanian Wikipedia has an article on:

bala

Wikipedia ^lt

Etymology

From bãlas (“white”) +‎ -a. Cognate with Latvian bala (“loamy valley without trees, swamp, depression”), Proto-Slavic *bělь.

Noun

balà f stress pattern 2/4

swamp, mire, morass
Synonyms: pélkė, rai̇̃stas
- 1899, Mitteilungen der Litauischen Literarischen Gesellschaft, Volume 4‎^[4], page 445:
  Oi šermukšni, šermukšni, Kur tu augai tarp baliu [sic]
  Oh, rowan tree, where have you been growing in the midst of the swamps?
  Popularized in a recording by the Lithuanian band Ugniavijas in 2013.
- 1925, J. Elisonas, “Archeologinių ir šiaip įdomių, tiek Panevėžio apskrities, tiek kitų artimų apylinkių, vietų sarašas, kurį yra surinkę Panevėžio valstybinės gimnazijos mokiniai [A list of archeological and otherwise interesting places, both in Panevėžys County and other nearby areas, compiled by the students of Panevėžys State Gymnasium]”, in Švietimo darbas‎^[5], number 4, pages 325–326:
  Dijokalnis. [...] Kalną supa miškas ir bala. [...] Dobulio kalnas. [...] Prie kalno yra gana didelė bala, turinti to paties kalno pavadinimą.
  [Dijokalnis hill] is surrounded by forest and swamp. [...] Near [Dobulio hill] there is a rather large swamp, which has the same name as the hill.
puddle
Synonyms: balùtė, klãnas, valkà
- 1971, Iš lietuvių kultūros istorijos‎^[6], volume 6, Mintis:
  Lyjant kaimo gatvėje neretai susidarydavo didžiulės balos.
  While it rained on the village street, huge puddles often formed.
- 2000, Valentinas Zaikauskas, Pėdsakai baigiasi rojuje valentinas, Lietuvos rašytojų sąjunga:
  Blogai, kad lietus pradėjo merkti, - galvojo seklys, - tačiau sekant tokį beprotį lietus yra niekai. Ir vėjas, ir balos - tik smulkmena palyginus su ta nenusakoma beprotybe, kurios privalau neišleisti iš akių.
  It's bad that the rain started to drizzle, the sleuth thought, but following such madness the rain is nothing. Both the wind and the puddles are just a trifle compared to that indescribable madness that I must not lose sight of.

Declension

Declension of **balà**
	singular	plural
nominative	balà	bãlos
genitive	bãlos	bãlų
dative	bãlai	bãloms
accusative	bãlą	balàs
instrumental	balà	bãlomis
locative	bãloje	bãlose
vocative	bãla	bãlos

Declension of **balà**
	singular	plural
nominative	balà	bãlos
genitive	balõs	balų̃
dative	bãlai	balóms
accusative	bãlą	balàs
instrumental	balà	balomi̇̀s
locative	balojè	balosè
vocative	bãla	bãlos

References

Derksen, Rick (2015), “bala”, in Etymological Dictionary of the Baltic Inherited Lexicon (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 13), Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN, page 77
“bala”, in Lietuvių kalbos etimologinio žodyno duomenų bazė [Lithuanian etymological dictionary database], 2007–2012
“bala”, in Lietuvių kalbos žodynas [Dictionary of the Lithuanian language], lkz.lt, 1941–2026

Makasar

Etymology

Borrowed from Arabic بَلَاء (balāʔ, “misfortune”).

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ˈbala/, [ˈɓa.la]
Hyphenation: ba‧la

Noun

bala (Lontara spelling ᨅᨒ or 𑻤𑻮, definite balaya)

misfortune, disaster, calamity
imminent danger
Natujui bala rilampanna
He had an accident along the way

Punna niaʼ tanra-pana teako ʼreppesì mange, balantu
If there's an arrow sign on it, don't get close; it signifies danger

Derived terms

affixations

balài

Malagasy

Etymology 1

From French balle.

Noun

bala

Etymology 2

Noun

bala

(dialectal) poles used to carry a burden

Etymology 3

Verb

balà

imperative form of balana

Malay

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /bala/
Rhymes: -ala, -la
(Southern Peninsular Malaysia Standard) IPA^(key): [ˈbä.lä, -lə]

Etymology 1

From Sanskrit बल (bala).

Noun

bala (Jawi spelling بالا, plural bala-bala)

soldiery; army, force

Descendants

Indonesian: bala

Etymology 2

From Arabic بَلَاء (balāʔ, “misfortune”).

Noun

bala (Jawi spelling بالا or بلاء, plural bala-bala)

misfortune, disaster, calamity
Synonyms: bencana, malapetaka, kemalangan, kecelakaan

Descendants

Indonesian: bala

Masbatenyo

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Germanic *ballôder.

Proto-Indo-European *bʰel-der.

Proto-Germanic *balluzder.

Frankish *balluder.

Medieval Latin balla

Old French balleder.?

Proto-Germanic *ballôder.

▲

Proto-Germanic *balluzder.

Lombardic *pallader.?

Italian ballader.

Middle French balle

French ballebor.

Spanish balabor.

Masbatenyo bala

Borrowed from Spanish bala.

Noun

bala

bullet

Middle English

Noun

bala

alternative form of bale (“bale”)

Mudburra

Noun

bala

inland snake-eyed skink, a small tree-dwelling lizard in inland Australia.

Northern Sami

Pronunciation

(Kautokeino) IPA^(key): /ˈpala/

Verb

bala

inflection of ballat:

Norwegian Nynorsk

Alternative forms

bale (verb, e-infinitive)

Verb

bala (present tense balar, past tense bala, past participle bala, passive infinitive balast, present participle balande, imperative bala/bal)

to make noise
Synonyms: bråka, ståka
to struggle
Synonyms: streva, træla

Noun

bala n

definite plural of bal

References

“bala” in The Nynorsk Dictionary.

Anagrams

alba

Occitan

Pronunciation

Audio (Béarn): (file)

Noun

bala f (plural balas)

bullet (a projectile, usually of metal, shot from a gun at high speed)

Old Javanese

Old Javanese script variants
Kawi
Javanese	ꦧꦭ
Balinese
Roman	bala

Etymology

Borrowed from Sanskrit बल (bala, “power, strength”).

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ba.la/
Rhymes: -la
Homophone: bāla
Hyphenation: ba‧la

Noun

bala

strength, power
troops, army, soldiers of lesser rank

Derived terms

Descendants

> Javanese: bala, wala
→ Balinese: bala

References

"bala" in P.J. Zoetmulder with the collaboration of S.O. Robson, Old Javanese-English Dictionary. 's-Gravenhage: M. Nijhoff, 1982.

Pali

Alternative forms

Alternative scripts

𑀩𑀮 (Brahmi script)
बल (Devanagari script)
বল (Bengali script)
බල (Sinhalese script)
ဗလ or ၿလ (Burmese script)
พล or พะละ (Thai script)
ᨻᩃ (Tai Tham script)
ພລ or ພະລະ (Lao script)
ពល (Khmer script)
𑄝𑄣 (Chakma script)

Etymology

Inherited from Sanskrit बल (bala).

Noun

bala n

strength
power
force
army, military force

Declension

Declension table of "bala" (neuter)

Case / Number	Singular	Plural
Nominative (first)	balaṃ	balāni
Accusative (second)	balaṃ	balāni
Instrumental (third)	balena or balasā	balehi or balebhi
Dative (fourth)	balassa or balāya or balatthaṃ	balānaṃ
Ablative (fifth)	balasmā or balamhā or balā	balehi or balebhi
Genitive (sixth)	balassa	balānaṃ
Locative (seventh)	balasmiṃ or balamhi or bale	balesu
Vocative (calling)	bala	balāni

Synonyms

(army): balakāya

Derived terms

balin (“strong”)

Descendants

→ Thai: พล (pon)
→ Khmer: ពល (pŭəl)
→ Burmese: ဗလ (ba.la.)
Foreign coinings:
- → Khmer: ថាមពល (thaamaʼpŭəl, “energy, power”)
- → Burmese: ပညာဗလ (pa.nyaba.la., “a title”)
- → Burmese: မဟာပညာဗလ (ma.hapa.nyaba.la., “a title”)
- → Thai: จตุพล (jà-dtù-pon, “a proper noun”)

Papiamentu

Noun

bala

ball

Phuthi

Etymology

From Proto-Bantu *-bàda.

Verb

-bala

to count

Inflection

This verb needs an inflection-table template.

Portuguese

Portuguese Wikipedia has an article on:

bala

Wikipedia ^pt

Alternative forms

balla (pre-standardization spelling)

Pronunciation

(Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈba.lɐ/

(Portugal) IPA^(key): /ˈba.lɐ/

Audio (Portugal (Porto)): (file)
Rhymes: -alɐ
Homophone: vala (Northern Portugal)
Hyphenation: ba‧la

Etymology 1

Borrowed from French balle, from Middle French balle from Northern Italian balla (“ball”), from Lombardic *palla, *balla (“ball”), from Proto-Germanic *ballô (“ball”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰoln- (“bubble”), from *bʰel- (“to blow, swell, inflate”).

Noun

bala f (plural balas)

bullet, projectile (part of the ammunition for firearms)
Synonym: projétil
- 2009 April 15, “Corra! Rei das Feras!” (02:20 from the start), in Ryukendo, episode 3, São Paulo: Centauro, via RedeTV!; dubbing of “走れ!百獣の王”, in 魔弾戦記リュウケンドー, 22 January 2006:
  Kenji Narukami: Ih, eu não tenho mais balas...
  Jushiro Fudo: Não é bala que se fala, é munição!
  Kenji Narukami: Uh-oh, I've run out of bullets...
  Jushiro Fudo: Don't say bullet, it's ammunition!
(Brazil) candy, sweet
Synonyms: doce, guloseima, rebuçado
(Brazil, slang) ecstasy (MDMA) pill

Usage notes

In Brazil, the military and other fields that make use of guns tend to proscribe the use of this term due to etymology 1 sense 2 (“candy”) sense, often relying on synonyms like projétil (“projectile”) and munição (“ammunition”).

Synonyms

Regional synonyms of bala (“candy, sweet”)
view map; edit data
Dialect group	Dialect	Location	Words
Brazilian	Sertanejo	Campo Grande	bala, caramelo
		Cuiabá	bala, caramelo
		Goiânia	bala, caramelo
	Amazofonia	Belém	bombom, bala
		Boa Vista	bombom, bala
		Rio Branco	bombom, bala
		Macapá	bombom, bala
		Manaus	bombom, bala
	Serra Amazônica	Porto Velho	bombom, bala
	Baiano	Salvador	bombom, queimado, bala
	North Coast	São Luís	bombom, bala
		Teresina	bombom, bala
		Fortaleza	bombom, bala
	Brazilian Northeastern	Aracaju	bala
		João Pessoa	bombom, bala, confeito
		Maceió	confeito, bala
		Natal	bala, confeito, bombom, caramelo
	Recifense	Recife	confeito, bala, bombom
	Brazilian Southern	Curitiba	bala
	Florianopolitan	Florianópolis	bala
	Gaúcho	Porto Alegre	bala
	Carioca	Rio de Janeiro	bala
	Fluminense	Vitória	bala
	Mineiro	Belo Horizonte	bala
	Paulistano	São Paulo	bala
This table shows various regional forms in the Portuguese language.

Derived terms

Etymology 2

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Verb

bala

inflection of balar:
1. third-person singular present indicative
2. second-person singular imperative
inflection of balir:
1. first/third-person singular present subjunctive
2. third-person singular imperative

Romanian

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): [ˈbala]

Noun

bala f

definite nominative/accusative singular of bală

Salar

Etymology

Cognate with Azerbaijani bala.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): [pɑlɑ]

Noun

bala (3rd person possessive balası, plural balalar)

child

References

林莲云 [Lin Lianyun] (1985), “bala”, in 撒拉语简志 [A Brief History of Salar]‎^[7], Beijing: 民族出版社: 琴書店, →OCLC, page 16
Tenishev, Edhem (1976), “bala”, in Stroj salárskovo jazyká [Grammar of Salar], Moscow: Nauka, page 300
马伟 [Ma Wei], 朝克 [Chaoke] (2014), “bala”, in 撒拉语366条会话读本 [Salar 366 Conversation Reader]‎^[8], 1^st edition, 社会科学文献出版社 [Social Science Literature Press], →ISBN, page 16

Sango

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ba˩.la˩/

Verb

bala

to greet

Serbo-Croatian

Etymology 1

From Italian balla, from Old High German balo. First attested in the 16th century.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /bâla/
Hyphenation: ba‧la

Noun

bȁla f (Cyrillic spelling ба̏ла)

bale, bundle, pack (bundle of goods)
(regional) ball, sphere

Declension

Declension of *bala*
	singular	plural
nominative	bȁla	bale
genitive	bale	bȃlā
dative	bali	balama
accusative	balu	bale
vocative	balo	bale
locative	bali	balama
instrumental	balom	balama

Etymology 2

Unknown. Possibly a Dalmatian substratum word; compare Romanian bale (“slobber, saliva”).

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /bâla/
Hyphenation: ba‧la

Noun

bȁla f (Cyrillic spelling ба̏ла)

(usually in the plural) mucus, snivel
(usually in the plural, informal) snot
(usually in the plural) slobber

Declension

Declension of *bala*
	singular	plural
nominative	bala	bale
genitive	bale	bala
dative	bali	balama
accusative	balu	bale
vocative	balo	bale
locative	bali	balama
instrumental	balom	balama

References

“bala”, in Hrvatski jezični portal [Croatian language portal] (in Serbo-Croatian), 2006–2026
“bala”, in Hrvatski jezični portal [Croatian language portal] (in Serbo-Croatian), 2006–2026

Sotho

Verb

bala

to read

Southern Ndebele

Etymology

From Proto-Bantu *-bàda.

Verb

-bala

to count

Inflection

This verb needs an inflection-table template.

Spanish

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ˈbala/ [ˈba.la]
Audio (Colombia): (file)
Rhymes: -ala
Syllabification: ba‧la

Etymology 1

Etymology tree

Proto-Germanic *ballôder.

Proto-Indo-European *bʰel-der.

Proto-Germanic *balluzder.

Frankish *balluder.

Medieval Latin balla

Old French balleder.?

Proto-Germanic *ballôder.

▲

Proto-Germanic *balluzder.

Lombardic *pallader.?

Italian ballader.

Middle French balle

French ballebor.

Spanish bala

Borrowed from French balle.

Noun

bala f (plural balas)

bullet
La bala atravesó la pared de la casa. ― The bullet went through the wall of the house.

Encontraron una bala en la esceña del crimen. ― They found a bullet at the crime scene.

Derived terms

Etymology 2

Verb

bala

inflection of balar:
1. third-person singular present indicative
2. second-person singular imperative

Sumerian

Romanization

bala

romanization of 𒁄 (bala)

Swazi

Etymology

From Proto-Bantu *-bàda.

Verb

-bala

to count

Inflection

This verb needs an inflection-table template.

Tagalog

Etymology 1

Inherited from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *bajaq (“tell, inform; ask, inquire”).

Pronunciation

(Standard Tagalog)
- IPA^(key): /ˈbalaʔ/ [ˈbaː.lɐʔ] (“threat; warning”, noun)
  - Rhymes: -alaʔ
- IPA^(key): /baˈlaʔ/ [bɐˈlaʔ] (“speaking; saying”, noun)
  - Rhymes: -aʔ
Syllabification: ba‧la

Noun

balà (Baybayin spelling ᜊᜎ)

threat
Synonyms: panakot, banta, babala
warning
Synonyms: babala, paalala
(obsolete) accusation against someone in front of some authority
Synonyms: sumbong, bintang, akusa

Derived terms

Noun

balâ (Baybayin spelling ᜊᜎ) (obsolete)

statement; speech; words said
Synonyms: sabi, salita, wika

Ang bala ng hari.
The word of the king.
act of speaking or saying something
Synonyms: sabi, salita, wika, pagsasalita, pagsasabi, pagwiwika

Derived terms

Etymology 2

Etymology tree

Proto-Germanic *ballôder.

Proto-Indo-European *bʰel-der.

Proto-Germanic *balluzder.

Frankish *balluder.

Medieval Latin balla

Old French balleder.?

Proto-Germanic *ballôder.

▲

Proto-Germanic *balluzder.

Lombardic *pallader.?

Italian ballader.

Middle French balle

French ballebor.

Spanish balabor.

Tagalog bala

Borrowed from Spanish bala (“bullet”), borrowed from French balle, from Middle French balle, from Italian balla, possibly from Old French balle, or possibly from Lombardic *palla.

Pronunciation

(Standard Tagalog) IPA^(key): /ˈbala/ [ˈbaː.lɐ]
Rhymes: -ala
Syllabification: ba‧la

Noun

bala (Baybayin spelling ᜊᜎ)

bullet; slug
Synonym: punglo
- 1983 April 15, Fred Navarro, Isang Bala Ka Lang!:
  Berting Rodriguez: Isang ‘’’Bala’’’ Ka Lang!
  It only takes one bullet!
  (literally, “You are just one bullet away!”)
pellet (lead projectile used as ammunition in rifled air guns)
(by extension) drill bit
(by extension) anything that is loaded or inserted into a device
1. staple (wire fastener used to secure stacks of paper)
2. cassette; audio cassette; videocassette
3. (computing) cartridge (removable enclosure containing read-only memory devices)
4. ink cartridge
5. (computer hardware) optical disk

Derived terms

Related terms

balon

Etymology 3

Possibly from Western Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *bala, *bara (“whatever, whichever”).

Pronunciation

(Standard Tagalog) IPA^(key): /ˈbala/ [ˈbaː.lɐ]
Rhymes: -ala
Syllabification: ba‧la

Determiner

bala (Baybayin spelling ᜊᜎ)

obsolete form of balang

Derived terms

balana

Etymology 4

Pronunciation

(Standard Tagalog) IPA^(key): /ˈbala/ [ˈbaː.lɐ]
- Rhymes: -ala
(Bulacan) IPA^(key): /ˈbalaʔ/ [ˈbaː.lɐʔ]
- Rhymes: -alaʔ
Syllabification: ba‧la

Noun

bala (Baybayin spelling ᜊᜎ) (obsolete)

buying on credit
Synonyms: utang, pantaw

Derived terms

Anagrams

alba, Alba, laab, abla, laba, alab

Tatar

Noun

bala

young animal, nestling
child

Ternate

Etymology 1

From N- +‎ pala (“to rise”).

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ˈba.la/

Verb

bala

(intransitive) to float up, to emerge from water
(intransitive, by extension) to appear, to emerge

Conjugation

Conjugation of *bala*
		singular	plural
		singular	inclusive	exclusive
1st person		tobala	fobala	mibala
2nd person		nobala	nibala
3rd person	masculine	obala	ibala yobala (archaic)
	feminine	mobala
	neuter	ibala

Etymology 2

From either Indonesian bala (“army”) or Javanese ꦧꦭ (bala, “army”), both from Sanskrit बल (bala).

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ˈba.la/

Noun

bala

people

Etymology 3

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ba.ˈlaː/

Noun

bala

alternative form of bahala (“disaster”)

References

Rika Hayami-Allen (2001), A descriptive study of the language of Ternate, the northern Moluccas, Indonesia, University of Pittsburgh

Tswana

Etymology

From Proto-Bantu *-bàda.

Verb

bala

to count

Turkish

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Turkic *bāla (“child”).

Pronunciation

Hyphenation: ba‧la

Noun

bala (definite accusative balayı, plural balalar)

(obsolete, otherwise dialectal) child, baby

Declension

Declension of bala

	singular	plural
nominative	bala	balalar
definite accusative	balayı	balaları
dative	balaya	balalara
locative	balada	balalarda
ablative	baladan	balalardan
genitive	balanın	balaların

Possessive forms
nominative
	singular	plural
1st singular	balam	balalarım
2nd singular	balan	balaların
3rd singular	balası	balaları
1st plural	balamız	balalarımız
2nd plural	balanız	balalarınız
3rd plural	balaları	balaları
definite accusative
	singular	plural
1st singular	balamı	balalarımı
2nd singular	balanı	balalarını
3rd singular	balasını	balalarını
1st plural	balamızı	balalarımızı
2nd plural	balanızı	balalarınızı
3rd plural	balalarını	balalarını
dative
	singular	plural
1st singular	balama	balalarıma
2nd singular	balana	balalarına
3rd singular	balasına	balalarına
1st plural	balamıza	balalarımıza
2nd plural	balanıza	balalarınıza
3rd plural	balalarına	balalarına
locative
	singular	plural
1st singular	balamda	balalarımda
2nd singular	balanda	balalarında
3rd singular	balasında	balalarında
1st plural	balamızda	balalarımızda
2nd plural	balanızda	balalarınızda
3rd plural	balalarında	balalarında
ablative
	singular	plural
1st singular	balamdan	balalarımdan
2nd singular	balandan	balalarından
3rd singular	balasından	balalarından
1st plural	balamızdan	balalarımızdan
2nd plural	balanızdan	balalarınızdan
3rd plural	balalarından	balalarından
genitive
	singular	plural
1st singular	balamın	balalarımın
2nd singular	balanın	balalarının
3rd singular	balasının	balalarının
1st plural	balamızın	balalarımızın
2nd plural	balanızın	balalarınızın
3rd plural	balalarının	balalarının

Synonyms

çocuk (child)
bebek (baby)

Uyghur

Other scripts
Arabic	بالا
Latin	bala
Cyrillic (Kazakhstan)	бала (bala)

Noun

bala

Latin (ULY) transcription of بالا (bala)
Latin (UYY) transcription of بالا (bala)

Welsh

Etymology

From Proto-Celtic *balago-, from Proto-Indo-European *gʷel- (“to dribble; gush forth; spring; squirt; throw”). Cognate with English quell.

Noun

bala m (plural balaon)

effluent, sluice

Derived terms

Y Bala

Mutation

Mutated forms of *bala*
radical	soft	nasal	aspirate
bala	fala	mala	unchanged

Note: Certain mutated forms of some words can never occur in standard Welsh.
All possible mutated forms are displayed for convenience.

Wolof

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ˈbala/

Adverb

bala

before

Xhosa

Etymology

From Proto-Bantu *-bàda.

Verb

-bala

to count

Inflection

This verb needs an inflection-table template.

Derived terms

-balisa

Zulu

Etymology

From Proto-Bantu *-bàda.

Verb

-bala

to count
to calculate

Inflection

tone L (infinitive *ukubala*)
imperative
	positive	negative
infinitive	ukubala	ukungabali

	simple	+ object concord
singular	bala	-bale
plural	balani	-baleni

present
	positive absolute	positive relative	positive participial	negative absolute	negative relative	negative participial
1st singular	ngiyabala, ngibala	engibalayo, engibala	ngibala	angibali	engingabali	ngingabali
2nd singular	uyabala, ubala	obalayo, obala	ubala	awubali	ongabali	ungabali
1st plural	siyabala, sibala	esibalayo, esibala	sibala	asibali	esingabali	singabali
2nd plural	niyabala, nibala	enibalayo, enibala	nibala	anibali	eningabali	ningabali
class 1	uyabala, ubala	obalayo, obala	ebala	akabali	ongabali	engabali
class 2	bayabala, babala	ababalayo, ababala	bebala	ababali	abangabali	bengabali
class 3	uyabala, ubala	obalayo, obala	ubala	awubali	ongabali	ungabali
class 4	iyabala, ibala	ebalayo, ebala	ibala	ayibali	engabali	ingabali
class 5	liyabala, libala	elibalayo, elibala	libala	alibali	elingabali	lingabali
class 6	ayabala, abala	abalayo, abala	ebala	awabali	angabali	engabali
class 7	siyabala, sibala	esibalayo, esibala	sibala	asibali	esingabali	singabali
class 8	ziyabala, zibala	ezibalayo, ezibala	zibala	azibali	ezingabali	zingabali
class 9	iyabala, ibala	ebalayo, ebala	ibala	ayibali	engabali	ingabali
class 10	ziyabala, zibala	ezibalayo, ezibala	zibala	azibali	ezingabali	zingabali
class 11	luyabala, lubala	olubalayo, olubala	lubala	alubali	olungabali	lungabali
class 14	buyabala, bubala	obubalayo, obubala	bubala	abubali	obungabali	bungabali
class 15	kuyabala, kubala	okubalayo, okubala	kubala	akubali	okungabali	kungabali
class 17	kuyabala, kubala	okubalayo, okubala	kubala	akubali	okungabali	kungabali

recent past
	positive absolute	positive relative	positive participial	negative absolute	negative relative	negative participial
1st singular	ngibalile, ngibalē	engibalile, engibalē	ngibalile, ngibalē	angibalanga	engingabalanga	ngingabalanga
2nd singular	ubalile, ubalē	obalile, obalē	ubalile, ubalē	awubalanga	ongabalanga	ungabalanga
1st plural	sibalile, sibalē	esibalile, esibalē	sibalile, sibalē	asibalanga	esingabalanga	singabalanga
2nd plural	nibalile, nibalē	enibalile, enibalē	nibalile, nibalē	anibalanga	eningabalanga	ningabalanga
class 1	ubalile, ubalē	obalile, obalē	ebalile, ebalē	akabalanga	ongabalanga	engabalanga
class 2	babalile, babalē	ababalile, ababalē	bebalile, bebalē	ababalanga	abangabalanga	bengabalanga
class 3	ubalile, ubalē	obalile, obalē	ubalile, ubalē	awubalanga	ongabalanga	ungabalanga
class 4	ibalile, ibalē	ebalile, ebalē	ibalile, ibalē	ayibalanga	engabalanga	ingabalanga
class 5	libalile, libalē	elibalile, elibalē	libalile, libalē	alibalanga	elingabalanga	lingabalanga
class 6	abalile, abalē	abalile, abalē	ebalile, ebalē	awabalanga	angabalanga	engabalanga
class 7	sibalile, sibalē	esibalile, esibalē	sibalile, sibalē	asibalanga	esingabalanga	singabalanga
class 8	zibalile, zibalē	ezibalile, ezibalē	zibalile, zibalē	azibalanga	ezingabalanga	zingabalanga
class 9	ibalile, ibalē	ebalile, ebalē	ibalile, ibalē	ayibalanga	engabalanga	ingabalanga
class 10	zibalile, zibalē	ezibalile, ezibalē	zibalile, zibalē	azibalanga	ezingabalanga	zingabalanga
class 11	lubalile, lubalē	olubalile, olubalē	lubalile, lubalē	alubalanga	olungabalanga	lungabalanga
class 14	bubalile, bubalē	obubalile, obubalē	bubalile, bubalē	abubalanga	obungabalanga	bungabalanga
class 15	kubalile, kubalē	okubalile, okubalē	kubalile, kubalē	akubalanga	okungabalanga	kungabalanga
class 17	kubalile, kubalē	okubalile, okubalē	kubalile, kubalē	akubalanga	okungabalanga	kungabalanga

remote past
	positive absolute	positive relative	positive participial	negative absolute	negative relative	negative participial
1st singular	ngābala	engābala	ngābala	angibalanga	engingabalanga	ngingabalanga
2nd singular	wābala	owābala	wābala	awubalanga	ongabalanga	ungabalanga
1st plural	sābala	esābala	sābala	asibalanga	esingabalanga	singabalanga
2nd plural	nābala	enābala	nābala	anibalanga	eningabalanga	ningabalanga
class 1	wābala	owābala	ābala	akabalanga	ongabalanga	engabalanga
class 2	bābala	abābala	bābala	ababalanga	abangabalanga	bengabalanga
class 3	wābala	owābala	wābala	awubalanga	ongabalanga	ungabalanga
class 4	yābala	eyābala	yābala	ayibalanga	engabalanga	ingabalanga
class 5	lābala	elābala	lābala	alibalanga	elingabalanga	lingabalanga
class 6	ābala	ābala	ābala	awabalanga	angabalanga	engabalanga
class 7	sābala	esābala	sābala	asibalanga	esingabalanga	singabalanga
class 8	zābala	ezābala	zābala	azibalanga	ezingabalanga	zingabalanga
class 9	yābala	eyābala	yābala	ayibalanga	engabalanga	ingabalanga
class 10	zābala	ezābala	zābala	azibalanga	ezingabalanga	zingabalanga
class 11	lwābala	olwābala	lwābala	alubalanga	olungabalanga	lungabalanga
class 14	bābala	obābala	bābala	abubalanga	obungabalanga	bungabalanga
class 15	kwābala	okwābala	kwābala	akubalanga	okungabalanga	kungabalanga
class 17	kwābala	okwābala	kwābala	akubalanga	okungabalanga	kungabalanga

potential
	positive absolute	positive relative	positive participial	negative absolute	negative relative	negative participial
1st singular	ngingabala	—	ngingabala	ngingebale	—	ngingebale
2nd singular	ungabala	—	ungabala	ungebale	—	ungebale
1st plural	singabala	—	singabala	singebale	—	singebale
2nd plural	ningabala	—	ningabala	ningebale	—	ningebale
class 1	angabala	—	engabala	angebale	—	engebale
class 2	bangabala	—	bengabala	bangebale	—	bengebale
class 3	ungabala	—	ungabala	ungebale	—	ungebale
class 4	ingabala	—	ingabala	ingebale	—	ingebale
class 5	lingabala	—	lingabala	lingebale	—	lingebale
class 6	angabala	—	engabala	angebale	—	engebale
class 7	singabala	—	singabala	singebale	—	singebale
class 8	zingabala	—	zingabala	zingebale	—	zingebale
class 9	ingabala	—	ingabala	ingebale	—	ingebale
class 10	zingabala	—	zingabala	zingebale	—	zingebale
class 11	lungabala	—	lungabala	lungebale	—	lungebale
class 14	bungabala	—	bungabala	bungebale	—	bungebale
class 15	kungabala	—	kungabala	kungebale	—	kungebale
class 17	kungabala	—	kungabala	kungebale	—	kungebale

immediate future
	positive absolute	positive relative	positive participial	negative absolute	negative relative	negative participial
1st singular	ngizobala	engizobala	ngizobala	angizubala	engingezubala	ngingezubala
2nd singular	uzobala	ozobala	uzobala	awuzubala	ongezubala	ungezubala
1st plural	sizobala	esizobala	sizobala	asizubala	esingezubala	singezubala
2nd plural	nizobala	enizobala	nizobala	anizubala	eningezubala	ningezubala
class 1	uzobala	ozobala	ezobala	akazubala	ongezubala	engezubala
class 2	bazobala	abazobala	bezobala	abazubala	abangezubala	bengezubala
class 3	uzobala	ozobala	uzobala	awuzubala	ongezubala	ungezubala
class 4	izobala	ezobala	izobala	ayizubala	engezubala	ingezubala
class 5	lizobala	elizobala	lizobala	alizubala	elingezubala	lingezubala
class 6	azobala	azobala	ezobala	awazubala	angezubala	engezubala
class 7	sizobala	esizobala	sizobala	asizubala	esingezubala	singezubala
class 8	zizobala	ezizobala	zizobala	azizubala	ezingezubala	zingezubala
class 9	izobala	ezobala	izobala	ayizubala	engezubala	ingezubala
class 10	zizobala	ezizobala	zizobala	azizubala	ezingezubala	zingezubala
class 11	luzobala	oluzobala	luzobala	aluzubala	olungezubala	lungezubala
class 14	buzobala	obuzobala	buzobala	abuzubala	obungezubala	bungezubala
class 15	kuzobala	okuzobala	kuzobala	akuzubala	okungezubala	kungezubala
class 17	kuzobala	okuzobala	kuzobala	akuzubala	okungezubala	kungezubala

remote future
	positive absolute	positive relative	positive participial	negative absolute	negative relative	negative participial
1st singular	ngiyobala	engiyobala	ngiyobala	angiyubala	engingeyubala	ngingeyubala
2nd singular	uyobala	oyobala	uyobala	awuyubala	ongeyubala	ungeyubala
1st plural	siyobala	esiyobala	siyobala	asiyubala	esingeyubala	singeyubala
2nd plural	niyobala	eniyobala	niyobala	aniyubala	eningeyubala	ningeyubala
class 1	uyobala	oyobala	eyobala	akayubala	ongeyubala	engeyubala
class 2	bayobala	abayobala	beyobala	abayubala	abangeyubala	bengeyubala
class 3	uyobala	oyobala	uyobala	awuyubala	ongeyubala	ungeyubala
class 4	iyobala	eyobala	iyobala	ayiyubala	engeyubala	ingeyubala
class 5	liyobala	eliyobala	liyobala	aliyubala	elingeyubala	lingeyubala
class 6	ayobala	ayobala	eyobala	awayubala	angeyubala	engeyubala
class 7	siyobala	esiyobala	siyobala	asiyubala	esingeyubala	singeyubala
class 8	ziyobala	eziyobala	ziyobala	aziyubala	ezingeyubala	zingeyubala
class 9	iyobala	eyobala	iyobala	ayiyubala	engeyubala	ingeyubala
class 10	ziyobala	eziyobala	ziyobala	aziyubala	ezingeyubala	zingeyubala
class 11	luyobala	oluyobala	luyobala	aluyubala	olungeyubala	lungeyubala
class 14	buyobala	obuyobala	buyobala	abuyubala	obungeyubala	bungeyubala
class 15	kuyobala	okuyobala	kuyobala	akuyubala	okungeyubala	kungeyubala
class 17	kuyobala	okuyobala	kuyobala	akuyubala	okungeyubala	kungeyubala

present subjunctive
	positive	negative
1st singular	ngibale	ngingabali
2nd singular	ubale	ungabali
1st plural	sibale	singabali
2nd plural	nibale	ningabali
class 1	abale	angabali
class 2	babale	bangabali
class 3	ubale	ungabali
class 4	ibale	ingabali
class 5	libale	lingabali
class 6	abale	angabali
class 7	sibale	singabali
class 8	zibale	zingabali
class 9	ibale	ingabali
class 10	zibale	zingabali
class 11	lubale	lungabali
class 14	bubale	bungabali
class 15	kubale	kungabali
class 17	kubale	kungabali

past subjunctive
	positive	negative
1st singular	ngabala	ngangabala, angabala, angangabala
2nd singular	wabala	wangabala, awabala, awangabala
1st plural	sabala	sangabala, asabala, asangabala
2nd plural	nabala	nangabala, anabala, anangabala
class 1	wabala	wangabala, akabala, akangabala
class 2	babala	bangabala, ababala, abangabala
class 3	wabala	wangabala, awabala, awangabala
class 4	yabala	yangabala, ayabala, ayangabala
class 5	labala	langabala, alabala, alangabala
class 6	abala	angabala, awabala, awangabala
class 7	sabala	sangabala, asabala, asangabala
class 8	zabala	zangabala, azabala, azangabala
class 9	yabala	yangabala, ayabala, ayangabala
class 10	zabala	zangabala, azabala, azangabala
class 11	lwabala	lwangabala, alwabala, alwangabala
class 14	babala	bangabala, ababala, abangabala
class 15	kwabala	kwangabala, akwabala, akwangabala
class 17	kwabala	kwangabala, akwabala, akwangabala

Derived terms

-balisa

References

C. M. Doke; B. W. Vilakazi (1972), “ɓala”, in Zulu-English Dictionary, →ISBN: “ɓala (6.3)”

[1] Starostin, Sergei; Dybo, Anna; Mudrak, Oleg (2003), “*bāla-”, in Etymological dictionary of the Altaic languages (Handbuch der Orientalistik; VIII.8), Leiden; Cologne; New York: E.J. Brill

[1]

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