Boba

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈboʊ.bə/

Definitions

1. A beverage characterized by its chewy tapioca pearls often mixed with flavored tea or fruit juice
2. A sweetened drink that includes tapioca bubbles, commonly served in various flavors and textures
3. A popular sweet beverage featuring soft, gelatinous spheres made from tapioca starch integrated into tea or fruity mixtures

Etymology: The drink's name is a Cantonese phrase that literally means "big balls," a joke that is far more polite than it sounds. "Bo1" (波) is the Cantonese word for a ball, borrowed from English "ball," and "baa3" (霸) means "chief" or "top." Together, "bo baa" was a slang term for something oversized, and the tapioca pearls were named for their size. The Chinese characters were chosen to match that sound, so the written form and the spoken Cantonese both carry the joke. The pearls then gave their name to the whole drink. The word was carried into English from Cantonese, which is why it is spelled as an everyday English word while its origin lies in a Hong Kong and Guangdong speech habit. Readers who know the English "ball" will notice the same root hiding inside the Cantonese.