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Sports in Spanish

Learn sports, equipment and competition words, with regional names for popular games.

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Team sports in Spanish

El fútbol usually means soccer; American football is el fútbol americano. Baloncesto and básquetbol both mean basketball.

Use jugar al with many games: jugar al fútbol. In parts of Latin America, jugar fútbol is also common.

  • el fútbolsoccer · el FOOT-bohl
  • el baloncestobasketball · el bah-lohn-SEHS-toh
  • el béisbolbaseball · el BEHYS-bohl
  • el voleibolvolleyball · el boh-ley-BOHL
  • el fútbol americanoAmerican football · el FOOT-bohl ah-meh-ree-KAH-noh
  • el rugbyrugby · el ROOG-bee
  • el hockeyhockey · el HOH-kee
  • el balonmanohandball · el bah-lohn-MAH-noh
  • el waterpolowater polo · el wah-tehr-POH-loh
  • el sóftbolsoftball · el SOHFT-bohl
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Sports in Spanish: the full list

Review the vocabulary by topic, then use the printable worksheet to check your recall.

Quick answer: soccer is el fútbol, basketball is el baloncesto, baseball is el béisbol, volleyball is el voleibol, American football is el fútbol americano, rugby is el rugby, hockey is el hockey, handball is el balonmano, water polo is el waterpolo, and softball is el sóftbol.

Team sports in Spanish

EnglishSpanishSay itChanges to
soccerel fútbolel FOOT-bohl
basketballel baloncestoel bah-lohn-SEHS-toh
baseballel béisbolel BEHYS-bohl
volleyballel voleibolel boh-ley-BOHL
American footballel fútbol americanoel FOOT-bohl ah-meh-ree-KAH-noh
rugbyel rugbyel ROOG-bee
hockeyel hockeyel HOH-kee
handballel balonmanoel bah-lohn-MAH-noh
water poloel waterpoloel wah-tehr-POH-loh
softballel sóftbolel SOHFT-bohl

Individual sports in Spanish

EnglishSpanishSay itChanges to
tennisel tenisel TEH-nees
swimmingla nataciónlah nah-tah-SYOHN
cyclingel ciclismoel see-KLEES-moh
track and fieldel atletismoel aht-leh-TEES-mohAtletismo covers track and field, not only recreational running.
boxingel boxeoel bohk-SEH-oh
gymnasticsla gimnasialah heem-NAH-syah
skiingel esquíel ehs-KEE
surfingel surfel SOORF
golfel golfel GOHLF
wrestlingla luchalah LOO-chah

Spanish sports and competition vocabulary

EnglishSpanishSay itChanges to
teamel equipoel eh-KEE-poh
match (sports)el partidoel pahr-TEE-doh
playerel jugadorel hoo-gah-DOR
coachel entrenadorel en-treh-nah-DOR
refereeel árbitroel AHR-bee-troh
ball (inflated sports ball)el balónel bah-LOHN
racketla raquetalah rah-KEH-tah
medalla medallalah meh-DAH-yah
to winganargah-NAHR
to loseperderpehr-DEHR
Sports in Spanish chart with English meanings and Spanish pronunciation
Sports in Spanish chart with English meanings and Spanish pronunciation. Download the chart · Printable worksheet · Save to Pinterest

Questions about sports in spanish

How do you say sports in Spanish?

Sports is deportes; a sport is un deporte.

Does fútbol mean soccer or American football?

Fútbol normally means soccer. American football is fútbol americano.

How do you say basketball in Spanish?

Baloncesto, básquetbol and basquetbol are used. The preferred form varies by country.

Do you use jugar or hacer with sports?

Jugar is common with games such as fútbol and tenis. Hacer or practicar works with many activities, such as gimnasia and natación.

What is a sports match in Spanish?

El partido is a match or game. Una competición or un torneo can contain several matches.

How do you say coach in Spanish?

El entrenador or la entrenadora is a coach. The feminine form is accepted in this lesson.

Keep learning Spanish

Updated · Pronunciation guides use Latin American Spanish.