balon

Balon is a term used in several languages with related but distinct meanings. In Spanish, balón (accent on the o) denotes a ball—a spherical object used in sports and games. This includes footballs, basketballs, and other balls. The accent helps distinguish it from other forms and words.

Elsewhere, in Turkish, Indonesian, and Malay, balon means balloon, the inflatable object that can be blown up or filled with gas. In Indonesian, for instance, balon udara refers to a hot air balloon, and balon can be used for party balloons as well.

Origin and cognates: The Spanish balón comes from French ballon, reflecting a common lineage with the English word ball and the French balloon. Other languages use the word balon with the balloon sense, but the historical pathways differ.

See also: Ball, Balloon.