boba

noun

bo·​ba ˈbō-bə How to pronounce boba (audio)
plural boba also bobas
1
or boba tea : a sweet drink of tea mixed typically with milk, tapioca balls, and additional ingredients (such as fresh fruit or fruit syrup) and served hot or cold : bubble tea
often used before another noun
a boba shop
2
plural : small balls of tapioca sometimes filled with flavored syrup and used chiefly in making boba
A wider straw enables the squishy bobas, which can have a burst of flavor when popped, to be slurped from the bottom of the cup.Laura Gutschke

Examples of boba in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Their peach martini has a touch of elderflower liquor and strawberry popping boba. Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 June 2026 Amidst the community’s political and social uncertainties in Asian American immigrant community, mental health clinicians and co-founders Garma-Balon and Morales-Kumasawa envision Kapwa in Daly City as more than just a place for boba. Ryan MacAsero, Mercury News, 12 June 2026 At Sun Wah, Laura’s 9-year-old daughter runs a boba stand, and Kelly’s daughters, 14 and 12, help run credit cards. Eva Remijan-Toba, Chicago Tribune, 2 June 2026 Kumo's dishes incorporate elements of Asian cuisine, such as its Boba Brûlée Bomb, a combination of brown sugar pancakes with boba pearls. Rana Wehbe Watson, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026 Teaspoon — a boba shop with locations across the country — will open in the former Claire’s at 8600 Ward Parkway, Suite 2020. Jenna Thompson, Kansas City Star, 13 May 2026 The menu includes shakes, like a Strawberry Shortcake Krunch, as well as boba refreshers and iced coffees. Dee-Ann Durbin, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2026 This refresher blends mango with pineapple flavors, along with a lemonade base, as well as strawberry popping boba. Molly Burford, Southern Living, 28 Apr. 2026 The menu includes shakes, like a Strawberry Shortcake Krunch, as well as boba refreshers and iced coffees. ABC News, 28 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Chinese (Beijing) bōbà, name for the large tapioca balls found in the tea, perhaps literally, "large breasts, large-breasted woman"

First Known Use

2000, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of boba was in 2000

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Boba.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/boba. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.

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