Etymology

From Latin ballaena, variant of bālaena ‎(“a whale”), from Ancient Greek φάλαινα ‎(phálaina), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰleh₃- ‎(“to inflate, blow, swell”), from *bʰel- ‎(“to bloom”).

Cognate with Old Spanish ballena and Mozarabic balléna.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ba.ˈlẽ.a/