Palla vs. pallone
The Italian words 'palla' and 'pallone' both mean 'ball' in English, but they are used differently depending on the size and type of ball.
Palla
'Palla' typically refers to smaller, handheld balls used in various sports and games.
La bambina gioca con la palla in giardino.
(The little girl is playing with the ball in the garden.)
Ho comprato una palla da tennis nuova.
(I bought a new tennis ball.)
La palla da biliardo è rotolata sul tavolo.
(The billiard ball rolled on the table.)
Pallone
'Pallone' is used for larger balls, especially those used in team sports.
Il calciatore ha calciato il pallone in rete.
(The soccer player kicked the ball into the net.)
Abbiamo bisogno di un nuovo pallone da pallavolo.
(We need a new volleyball.)
Il pallone da basket è rimbalzato fuori dal campo.
(The basketball bounced out of bounds.)
Summary
While both 'palla' and 'pallone' mean 'ball' in Italian, 'palla' is generally used for smaller balls like tennis balls or handheld toys, whereas 'pallone' is used for larger balls typically used in team sports like soccer, volleyball, or basketball.