Word
boba
Phoneticsbo·ba
Definition
n. a popular drink made with tea, milk, and sugar, often served in a large cup with a straw. It is very common in places like Taiwan and the United States.
n. a beverage consisting of tea, milk, and sugar, typically served in a large cup with a straw. Often used as a generic term for bubble tea in informal contexts.
Examples
“I usually order a large boba with extra sugar.”
“The café on the corner is famous for its signature boba, which has a unique tapioca pearl texture.”
“While the original recipe was developed in Taiwan, the boba has become a global phenomenon, often customized with various syrups and toppings to suit local tastes.”
Examples
simple
“I usually order a large boba with extra sugar.”
contextual
“The café on the corner is famous for its signature boba, which has a unique tapioca pearl texture.”
complex
“While the original recipe was developed in Taiwan, the boba has become a global phenomenon, often customized with various syrups and toppings to suit local tastes.”
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”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/boba