Are you a sports fanatic? And on top of that, are you interested in Hispanic culture? This blog will guide you through fun and interesting Spanish sports vocabulary. Plus, at the same time, you will also learn which sports are famous in certain areas of Latin America!
If you’ve ever met a Latin American football fanatic, you know they have all the knowledge about football, famous players, and anything related to championships. They would love to engage in a conversation about it with you! And better if it’s in their native tongue.
In such cases, you need to have enough knowledge of sports and Spanish vocabulary to keep up with what they are saying.
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Vocabulary For Sports In Spanish
You never know when you will come across a knowledgeable sports fan who is also a Spanish speaker. So, don’t miss this lesson if you want to learn about sports, from their Spanish names to equipment or famous events. This guide has it all!
How To Say ‘Sports’ In Spanish?
- Plural: Los deportes – Sports
- Singular: El deporte – Sport
Sportsmen/sportswomen in Spanish is ‘Deportista’ for both women and men. The plural form would be ‘Deportistas,‘ with an ‘s’ at the end.
Common Sports In Latin America
The following list will offer you insight into people’s different sports in Latin America.
You can expect to see a big excitement and celebration if you spend time in a Latin country during major sports events of the following sports.
You will get to know the Spanish name of the sport, its pronunciation in Latin American Spanish accent, and what to call the players of that specific sport in Spanish.
Fútbol – Soccer
- Futbolista – Soccer player/Football Player
Some people might not know anything from your country, more than the names of the most famous football players. I once met someone who didn’t know about Ecuador, but he knew Valencia and Méndez. Another example is the famous Lionel Messi, from Argentina. Everyone has at least heard of him.
Football deserves a special mention for being a global and cultural sport that unites people. It is the most popular sport in Latin America. Many people even become nationalists, utterly proud of their team and country, when their favorite team is in a match with another country.
Atletismo – Athletics
- Los Atletas – Athletes
- El Atleta – Athlete
Athletics is undoubtedly one of the most important sports. Numerous Latin American athletes have excelled over the years. The Colombian athlete Caterine Ibargüen won the Pan American Games and the 2015 World Championships in Athletics.
In addition, the Ecuadorian racewalker Jefferson Pérez became Olympic champion in Atlanta. Jefferson Pérez is loved in Ecuador for having won three consecutive gold medals at the World Championships.
Béisbol – Baseball
- Beisbolista – Baseball player
This sport is mainly famous in Venezuela, where the ‘Liga Venezolana de Béisbol Profesional’ (Venezuelan Professional Baseball League) has been played since 1946 and its teams have won several Caribbean Series championships.
Básquet/Baloncesto/Básquetbol – Basketball
- Basquetbolista
Among Spanish-speaking countries, Argentina’s team stands out, having won the Olympic Games and the World Championship, followed by Chile. If we also count Latin American countries that do not speak Spanish, it is also necessary to name Brazil, which has been victorious in several events.
Boxeo – Boxing
- Boxeador – Boxer
Today, boxing is enjoyed by many South American countries, especially Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Uruguay, and Venezuela. All the countries mentioned have an Olympic medal in boxing. Also, many of the most famous boxers in history have been from Latin countries, mainly Argentina and Mexico.
Boxing is also a popular sport in Spain, having great boxers like María Jesús Rosa from Madrid, who competed until 2005.
Ciclismo – Cycling
- Ciclista
It is already known that Colombian cyclists have an exceptional talent for this sport. They are a world power, and many Latino cyclists travel to Colombia to train before competing. It has become a popular sport in Ecuador due to the great Richard Carapaz, a source of pride for many in the country after he won the Giro d’Italia.
Deporte Motor – Motorsport
In Argentina, you can visit the main racetrack that once hosted Formula 1 and several others in the city of Rafaela and Termas de Río Hondo. Rally racing is also very prevalent and equally popular in other Latin American countries like Chile, Peru, and Bolivia.
Hockey – Hockey
- Jugadores de Hockey – Hockey Players
Field hockey is a top-rated game, mainly in Argentina. The Argentinian Women’s team stands out as they have won several medals at the Olympic Games. This game had its origins in Argentina approximately in 1903. It has been growing more and more in recent years, also expanding throughout the rest of the continent.
Hispanic athletes have shown high performance in field and ice hockey. The latter is played in Mexico, Colombia, Puerto Rico, and Chile.
Patinaje – Skating
- Patinadores – Skaters
Skating is very popular in Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela. Colombia has won several international skating championships, positioning itself as the absolute leader in this sport. At the 2021 World Skate (Ibagué), Colombian athletes obtained 32 gold, 19 silver, and five bronze medals. They were also crowned champions for the eighteenth time.
Polo – Polo
Polo is a sport that is more prevalent in upper-class clubs. Therefore it may not be an exceptionally well-known sport for many people.
In Chile, Polo is mainly played by men. The Chilean Polo Federation represents the Polo team that has been previously crowned as World Polo Champion. It is also a trendy sport in Argentina. There is even the ‘Campeonato Argentino Abierto de Polo’ (Argentinian Open Polo Tournament).
Vóley/Voleibol – Volleyball
- Jugadores de Voleibol – Volleyball Players
This sport has had its own South American Championship since 1951. The women’s team from Peru, nicknamed ‘Las Hijas del Sol’ (Sun’s daughters), has been very prominent in volleyball since the ’80s. Some volleyball stars are Ángela Leyva from Peru, and Regla Torres, from Cuba, who played internationally from the age of 14.
Names Of Other Sports In Spanish
| Spanish | English | Audio |
|---|---|---|
| Golf | Golf | |
| Montañismo Y Escalada | Mountaineering And climbing | |
| Fútbol Americano | American football | |
| Balonmano | Handball | |
| Tenis | Tennis | |
| Gimnasia Artística | Artistic Gymnastics | |
| La gimnasia | Gymnastics | |
| La equitación | Horse riding | |
| Esquí | Skiing | |
| El levantamiento de pesas | Weight lifting | |
| El tiro con arco | Archery | |
| Alpinismo | Climbing | |
| La esgrima | Fencing | |
| Hipismo | Equestrian/Horseback riding | |
| El remo | Rowing | |
| El críquet | Cricket | |
| Los bolos / El boliche | Bowling | / |
| La natación | Swimming |
| Spanish | English | Audio |
|---|---|---|
| El bádminton | Badminton | |
| El tenis de mesa / El pimpón | Table tennis | / |
| El Boxeo Tailandés / El Muay Thai | Muay Thai | / |
| Hockey sobre hielo | Ice Hockey | |
| El snowboard | Snowboarding | |
| El patinaje artístico | Figure Skating | |
| El surfeo / Surf | Surfing | / |
| El buceo | Scuba diving | |
| Puentismo / El puenting | Bungee jumping | / |
| El paracaidismo | Parachuting/Skydiving | |
| Judo | Judo | |
| Rugby | Rugby/Rugby Union | |
| Sóftbol | Softball |
Example Sentences:
- Una vez practiqué tiro con arco. (I once practiced archery.)
- El paracaidismo está ganando popularidad en mi ciudad. (Skydiving is gaining popularity in my city.)
- Mis deportes favoritos son el soccer, básquet, surfeo, y el bádminton. (My favorite sports are soccer, basketball, surfing, and badminton.)
Spanish Sports Equipment & Locations Vocabulary
To completely learn Spanish sports vocabulary, it’s required to add equipment words and locations.
Locations:
- La Pista – The Track
- El Cuadrilátero/El ring – Ring
- La Piscina – Swimming Pool – There are specific pools for competition, both indoor (interior) or outdoor (al aire libre)
- La Cancha De Tenis – Tennis Court
- El Campo De golf – Golf Course
- El Gimnasio – The Gym
- La Arena – The Arena
Equipment:
| Spanish | English | Audio |
|---|---|---|
| La pelota | The ball | |
| Patines | Skates | |
| El casco | Helmet | |
| La pantaloneta | Shorts | |
| El protector bucal | Mouthguard | |
| Raqueta de tenis | Tennis racket | |
| El kayak | Kayak | |
| Las rodilleras | Knee pads | |
| Las coderas | Elbow pads | |
| El arnés | Harness | |
| La bicicleta | Bicycle | |
| El paracaídas | Parachute | |
| La patineta | Skateboard | |
| La tabla de surf | Surfboard | |
| El esnórquel | Snorkel |
Example Sentences:
- Se rompió mi raqueta de tenis. (My tennis racket broke.)
- No olvides tu casco antes de hacer ciclismo. (Don’t forget your helmet before cycling.)
Sports International Events & Games Vocabulary
Each event of a particular sport is important in different countries. Tournaments and championships are aspects of national cultures that are passed down from generation to generation.
In my case, I may not be into football or other commonly popular sports in Latin America, but I can’t live without seeing figure skating competitions. I’m even proud to say I’ve seen amazing figures such as Evgenia Medvedeva, Yuzuru Hanyu, Nathan Chen, and many more at Pyeongchang.
| Spanish | Translation | Audio |
|---|---|---|
| El Partido | The Match/The Game | |
| El Torneo | Tournament | |
| Las Olimpiadas / Los Juegos Olímpicos | The Olympic Games | |
| Campeonato de Fútbol FIFA La Copa del Mundo | Football championship FIFA World Cup | |
| Campeonato Mundial de Rally | World Rally Championship | |
| Tour De Francia | Tour De France | |
| El Campeonato Mundial de Patinaje Artístico sobre Hielo | The World Figure Skating Championships |
How Can You Practice Spanish Sports Vocabulary?
A big tournament like the World Cup can be an excellent opportunity for you if you want to learn a new language. If you enjoy football, you may go to different bars to watch the games while meeting new people.
You can take advantage of having conversations about soccer and use the Spanish sports vocabulary that you just learned today.
Learn Spanish With Ling App!
But learning about sports is not the end of the road. For your goal to achieve Spanish fluency, there’s so much more you should know. From Spanish verbs to key phrases for tourists, this vocabulary will help you have meaningful conversations with native speakers.
An easy and effective way to learn this language is by using the Ling app. The app will teach you precisely what you need to survive your daily life in a foreign Hispanic country. You can learn all the proper phrases and vocabulary in lessons that run from beginner to advanced. Take fun quizzes, and use the Dialog feature to practice before having real conversations with locals in Spanish-speaking countries.
Start learning Spanish with the Ling app today, and try it with a 7-day free trial.
