サッカーボール

サッカーボール is a loanword compound from English "soccer" + "ball," referring to the ball used in association football.

Common collocations

• サッカーボールを蹴(け)る: to kick a soccer ball
• サッカーボールを追(お)いかける: to chase a soccer ball
• サッカーボールが転(ころ)がる: a soccer ball rolls
• サッカーボールに空気(くうき)を入(い)れる: to pump up a soccer ball

Scope notes

• Specifically the soccer ball; not used for balls of other sports.
• For "ball" generically, use ボール (外(そと)でボールで遊(あそ)ぶ — to play with a ball outside).

Related words

• サッカー: soccer (the sport)
• ボール: ball (general)
• バスケットボール: basketball (also the ball)
• 蹴(け)る: to kick (the typical verb for soccer)

Cultural note

The traditional black-and-white truncated icosahedron pattern (the "telstar" design) is so iconic in Japan that simple drawings of soccer balls in textbooks and signage almost always use it, even though professional balls today come in many colors and patterns.