One of my son’s favourite things to do on a rainy day, like many kids his age, is jump in muddy puddles (charcos). Unfortunately, he’ll sometimes run into a large puddle even without his boots (botas) on!
Latin American Pronunciation
European Pronunciation
Bota is a feminine noun that takes the following definite and indefinite articles:
- la bota = the boot
- las botas = the boots
- una bota = a boot
- unas botas = some boots
A bota can be defined as a sturdy item of footwear that sits above the ankle, usually below the knee. While there are many different kinds of botas, we can sum up the most popular in the following list:
- botas de agua = rubber boots (note that in Colombia, they are known as botas pantaneras)
- botas de campaña = cowboy boots
- botas de cuero = leather boots
- botas de esquí = ski boots
- botas militares = jackboots
- botas de media caña = ankle boots (also known as botines especially in the context of sport – e.g. botín de fútbol = soccer boot)
- botas de caña alta = high-knee boots
- botas de montaña = mountain boots
- botas de montar = riding boots
Tus botas son realmente bonitas. ¿Dónde las compraste?
Your boots are really nice. Where did you buy them?
Here are a few verbs you will often see used with bota in everyday conversation:
- ponerse las botas = to put on one’s boots
- quitarse las botas = to take off one’s boots
- usar botas = to wear boots
- lustrar las botas = to polish one’s boots
Fun Fact: In Colombia specifically, bota can be used to describe a pair of trousers or pants. For example, bota campana is the word for bell-bottom trousers, while bota tubo is the word for narrow-leg pants or skinny jeans.
Another possible translation for bota is wineskin or winebag, or more specifically, bota de vino. It may also refer to the large barrel within which the wine is kept.
Be aware that bota is also the third person singular (él / ella / usted) and the second person (tú) imperative of the verb botar, meaning to bounce or to throw away, among other things.
Bota estas botas viejas por favor.
Throw away these old boots please.
Idiomatic expressions featuring ‘bota’
Ponerse las botas
Literal translation: to put the boots on
English meaning: to strike it rich, to stuff oneself silly with food
Morir con las botas puestas
Literal translation: to die with the boots on
English meaning: to die with one’s boots on (referring to a person who keeps on working until the very end, and is more likely to die working than of another cause such as an illness or old age)
