303 lively sports in Spanish terms that'll get the ball rolling
Author: Marco Monroy
Key takeaways
- Huge, ready-to-use glossary of 300+ sports in Spanish starting with the basic term los deportes, including English equivalents and pronunciation (IPA and phonetic guides).
- Sports are grouped by category—outdoor, indoor, water, racket, combat, motorized, eSports, mind sports, equestrian, ice/snow, net-and-ball—so you can find terms fast.
- Practical extras: common sport verbs, venue and player vocabulary, match/game phrases, and example conversations for real-life use like buying tickets or chatting at watch parties.
- Country notes and context: which sports are most popular where (soccer across Spain and Latin America, baseball in the Caribbean and parts of Latin America, boxing in Mexico and Panama) and the fútbol versus fútbol americano distinction.
- Links to Berlitz Spanish resources and courses if you want structured lessons to practice and expand your sports vocabulary further.
Few things can bring people together like sports can, so learning how to talk about sports in Spanish will help you connect with the locals.
Every culture has some type of sport or game they play for recreational or competitive purposes. Spanish-speaking countries are no different, with devoted fan bases for sports like soccer, baseball, boxing, and more.
In fact, one of the oldest sports in the world was developed in Mexico and Northern Central America. The Mesoamerican Ballgame was the first team sport that included the use of a ball, so you could think of it as a precursor to other ball games like football and basketball!
As you’ll surely notice as you continue learning Spanish, sports are a huge part of the everyday lives of Spanish speakers. So, being able to talk about sports will help you:
- Make new friends as you discuss your shared interests.
- Learn about local sports and local variations on sports.
- Be more social by attending sports watch parties.
- Introduce yourself more thoroughly by mentioning your favorite sports.
- Buy tickets for sporting events.
With these in mind, it’s easy to see why learning sports vocabulary is one of the best things you can do!
How do you say “sports” in Spanish?
Of course, the first thing you’ll want to know is how to actually say sports. Luckily, there’s only one way to say it: los deportes. You can get some useful variations from this word as well, such as deportista (a person who does sports). Check out the following table for more details:
| English | Spanish | IPA | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sport | El deporte | deˈpoɾte | deh-pore-teh |
| Sports | Los deportes | deˈpoɾtes | deh-pore-tes |
| Sporty | Deportivo | depoɾˈtiβo | deh-pore-tee-vo |
| Sportsperson | Un deportista / Una deportista | depoɾˈtista | deh-pore-tees-ta |
How to have a conversation about sports
If you’re eagerly approaching the intermediate Spanish level, you’re probably trying to find ways to have more conversations with Spanish speakers. This is especially true if you’re a sports fan and want to discuss the latest game with the locals.
Well, even if you haven’t learned a lot of Spanish sports vocabulary yet, these simple phrases will get you talking conversationally in no time!
| English | Spanish | IPA | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| What’s your favorite sport? | ¿Cuál es tu deporte favorito? | ˈkwal ˈɛs tu ðeˈpoɾte faβoˈɾito | coo-al es too deh-pore-teh fa-vo-ree-toe |
| My favorite sport is baseball. | Mi deporte favorito es el béisbol. | mi ðeˈpoɾte faβoˈɾito ˈɛs ɛl ˈβei̯s̬βol | me deh-pore-teh fa-vo-re-toe es el beh-ees-bol |
| Do you like watching sports on the TV? | ¿Te gusta ver deportes en la tele? | te ˈɣusta ˈβɛɾ ðeˈpoɾtes ɛ̃n la ˈtele | teh goose-ta ver deh-pore-tes ehn la teh-leh |
| I’m not so much into watching sports on the TV. | No me gusta mucho ver deportes en la tele. | ˈno me ˈɣusta ˈmuʧo ˈβɛɾ ðeˈpoɾtes ɛ̃n la ˈtele | no meh goose-ta moo-cho ver deh-pore-tes ehn la teh-le |
| Do you know who won the game last night? | ¿Sabes quién ganó el juego de anoche? | ˈsaβes ˈkjɛ̃n ɡaˈno ɛl ˈxweɣo ðe aˈnoʧe | sa-bes key-ehn ga-no el who-eh-go deh ah-no-che |
| I’m a very athletic person. | Soy una persona muy atlética. | ˈsoj ˈuna pɛɾˈsona mwj at̚ˈlɛtika | soy oo-na per-so-na mooy ah-tleh-tee-ca |
| I used to swim as a kid, but now I prefer to run. | Solía nadar de chiquito, pero ahora prefiero correr. | soˈlia naˈðaɾ ðe ʧiˈkito | ˈpɛɾo aˈoɾa pɾeˈfjɛɾo koˈrɛɾ | so-lee-ah na-dar deh chee-key-to peh-ro ah-oh-ra preh-fee-air-oh co-rer |
| I like team sports the most. | Los deportes en equipo son mis favoritos. | los̬ ðeˈpoɾtes ɛn eˈkipo ˈsõm mis faβoˈɾitos | los deh-pore-tes ehn eh-key-po son mees fa-vo-ree-tos |
| Do you watch the Olympic games on TV? | ¿Ves las olimpiadas en la tele? | ˈbes̬ las olĩmˈpjaðas ɛ̃n la ˈtele | ves las oh-leem-pee-ah-das ehn la teh-leh |
| What’s your favorite soccer team? | ¿Cuál es tu equipo de fútbol favorito? | ˈkwal ˈɛs tw eˈkipo ðe ˈfutβol faβoˈɾito | coo-al es too eh-key-po fa-vo-ree-toe |
Sport-related verbs in Spanish
Even if you’re just a beginner at Spanish, you probably can already tell that this is a verb-heavy language. As such, there are plenty of sport-related verbs that you should spend some time getting familiar with. And don’t forget about reviewing their conjugations!
| English | Spanish | IPA | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| To play | Jugar | xuˈɣaɾ | hoo-gar |
| To do sports | Hacer deporte | aˈsɛɾ ðeˈpoɾte | ah-ser deh-pore-teh |
| To practice | Practicar | pɾak̚tiˈkaɾ | prac-tee-car |
| To win | Ganar | ɡaˈnaɾ | ga-nar |
| To tie | Empatar | ɛ̃mpaˈtaɾ | em-pa-tar |
| To lose | Perder | pɛɾˈðɛɾ | pear-der |
| To exercise | Hacer ejercicio | aˈsɛɾ exɛɾˈsisjo | ah-ser eh-her-see-see-oh |
| To compete | Competir | kõmpɛˈtiɾ | com-peh-teer |
| To get injured | Lastimarse | lastiˈmaɾse | las-tee-mar-seh |
| To rest | Descansar | dɛskãnˈsaɾ | des-can-sar |
| To sign up | Inscribirse | ĩnskɾiˈβiɾse | ins-cree-beer-seh |
| To throw | Aventar | aβɛ̃nˈtaɾ | ah-vehn-tar |
| To catch | Atrapar | atɾaˈpaɾ | ah-tra-par |
| To cheer on | Echar porras | eˈʧaɾ ˈporas | eh-char poh-ras |
| To defeat | Derrotar | dɛroˈtaɾ | deh-ro-tar |
| To defend | Defender | defɛ̃nˈdɛɾ | deh-fen-dehr |
| To pass | Pasar | paˈsaɾ | pa-sar |
| To perform | Desempeñar | desɛ̃mpeˈɲaɾ | des-ehm-peh-nyar |
| To shoot | Tirar | tiˈɾaɾ | tee-rar |
| To tackle | Abordar | aβoɾˈðaɾ | ah-bore-dar |
List of sports in Spanish
Now, let’s get into what you really came for: the ultimate list. We’ll cover practically every sport imaginable, from soccer to tennis in Spanish and beyond. We’ve broken down the list into more manageable chunks, so make sure to make your way through all sections if you can’t find the sport you’re looking for!
Outdoor sports
Few things can fill you up with endorphins like playing sports outdoors. If you enjoy a good hike on a nice, sunny day or playing baseball with your friends, then this section is for you! Check out the table below to learn how to say outdoor sports like hiking and baseball in Spanish.
| English | Spanish | IPA | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Athletics | El atletismo | at̚lɛˈtis̬mo | ah-tleh-tees-mo |
| Baseball | El béisbol | ˈβei̯s̬βol | beh-ees-bol |
| Softball | El softball | softˈβaʝ | softball |
| Bullfighting | El toreo | toˈɾeo | toe-reh-oh |
| Long jump | El salto de longitud | ˈsalto ðe lõnxiˈtuð | sal-toe deh lon-he-tood |
| High jump | El salto de altura | ˈsalto ðe alˈtuɾa | sal-toe deh al-too-ra |
| Pole vault | El salto con pértiga | ˈsalto kõm ˈpɛɾtiɣa | sal-toe con pear-tee-ga |
| Hammer throw | El lanzamiento de martillo | lãnsaˈmjɛ̃nto ðe maɾˈtiʝo | lan-za-mee-ehn-toe deh mar-tee-yo |
| Javelin throw | El lanzamiento de jabalina | lãnsaˈmjɛ̃nto ðe xaβaˈlina | lan-za-mee-ehn-toe deh ha-ba-lee-na |
| Racewalking | La marcha atlética | ˈmaɾʧa at̚ˈlɛtika | mar-cha ah-tleh-tee-ca |
| Parkour | El parkour | paɾˈkou̯ɾ | par-koor |
| Archery | El tiro con arco | ˈtiɾo kon ˈaɾko | tee-ro con ar-co |
| Skateboarding | El monopatinaje | monopatiˈnaxe | mo-no-pa-tee-na-heh |
| Surfing | El surf | ˈsuɾf | surf |
| Wakeboarding | El wakeboard | ‘wakeβoɾð | wakeboard |
| Frisbee | El frisbi | ˈfɾis̬βi | frisbee |
| Dodgeball | El balón tiro | βaˈlõn ˈtiɾo | bah-lon tee-ro |
| Quidditch | El Quidditch | kiðˈðitʧ | quidditch |
| Lacrosse | El lacrosse | laˈkɾosse | lacrosse |
| Mountaineering | El montañismo | mõntaˈɲis̬mo | mon-ta-nyes-mo |
| Rock climbing | La escalada en roca | ɛskaˈlaða ɛ̃n ˈroka | es-ca-la-da ehn ro-ca |
| Hiking | El senderismo | sɛ̃ndɛˈɾis̬mo | sen-deh-rees-mo |
| Cycling | El ciclismo | siˈklis̬mo | see-klees-mo |
| Mountain biking | El ciclismo de montaña | siˈklis̬mo ðe mõnˈtaɲa | see-klees-mo deh mon-ta-nyah |
| Road bicycle racing | El ciclismo en ruta | siˈklis̬mo ɛ̃n ˈruta | see-klees-mo ehn roo-ta |
| Track cycling | El ciclismo en pista | siˈklis̬mo ɛ̃m ˈpista | see-klees-mo ehn pees-ta |
| Fishing | La pesca | ˈpɛska | pehs-ca |
| Spearfishing | La pesca submarina | ˈpɛska suβmaˈɾina | pehs-ca soob-ma-re-na |
| Golf | El golf | ˈɣolf | golf |
| Hunting | La caza | ˈkasa | ca-za |
| Running | La carrera a pie | kaˈrɛɾa a ˈpje | cah-reh-ra ah pee-eh |
| Cross country running | El campo a través | ˈkãmpo a tɾaˈβes | cam-po ah tra-ves |
| Marathoning | El maratonismo | maɾatoˈnis̬mo | ma-ra-toe-nees-mo |
| Sprinting | La carrera de velocidad | kaˈrɛɾa ðe βelosiˈðað | cah-reh-ra deh veh-lo-see-dad |
| Freerunning | El freerunning | fɾeɛɾũnˈnĩnɡ | freerunning |
| Obstacle course racing | La carrera de obstáculos | kaˈrɛɾa ðe oβsˈtakulos | cah-reh-ra deh obs-ta-coo-los |
Indoor sports
Indoor sports can be just as exciting as outdoor sports. In fact, many can be played both indoors and outdoors, such as basketball. Other sports like gymnastics are traditionally played indoors as they require a controlled environment for the athletes to perform their routines. Keep reading to learn how to say indoor sports like gymnastics and basketball in Spanish!
| English | Spanish | IPA | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Competitive dance | El baile competitivo | ˈβai̯le kõmpɛtiˈtiβo | bah-e-leh com-peh-tee-tee-vo |
| Gymnastics | La gimnasia | xĩmˈnasja | him-na-see-ah |
| Trampolining | La gimnasia en trampolín | xĩmˈnasja ɛ̃n tɾãmpoˈlĩn | him-na-see-ah ehn tram-po-leen |
| Basketball | El baloncesto | βalõnˈsɛsto | bah-lon-sehs-toe |
| Carom billiards | El billar francés | βiˈʝaɾ fɾãnˈses | bee-yar fran-sehs |
| Snooker | El snooker | s̬noˈo | snooker |
| Acrobatic gymnastics | La gimnasia acrobática | xĩmˈnasja akɾoˈβatika | him-na-see-ah ah-cro-bah-tee-ca |
| Aerobic gymnastics | La gimnasia aeróbica | xĩmˈnasja aɛˈɾoβika | him-na-see-ah ah-eh-ro-bee-ca |
| Artistic gymnastics | La gimnasia artística | xĩmˈnasja aɾˈtistika | him-na-see-ah ar-tees-tee-ca |
| Rhythmic gymnastics | La gimnasia rítmica | xĩmˈnasja ˈrit̚mika | him-na-see-ah reet-me-ca |
| Pole dance | El baile en barra | ˈβai̯lɛ ɛ̃m ˈbara | bah-e-leh en ba-ra |
| Rope climbing | La escalada de cuerda | ɛskaˈlaða ðe ˈkwɛɾða | es-ca-la-da deh coo-air-da |
| Roller skating | El patín sobre ruedas tradicional | paˈtĩn ˈsoβɾe ˈrweðas tɾaðisjoˈnal | pa-teen so-breh roo-eh-das tra-dee-see-oh-nal |
| Tumbling | El tumbling | tũmˈblĩnɡ | tumbling |
| Wheel gymnastics | La rueda alemana | ˈrweða aleˈmana | roo-eh-da ah-leh-ma-na |
Water sports
Water sports are some of the most fun sports out there. Whether you live by the beach, a major river, or a lake, you must have a body of water nearby where you can practice some exciting water sports. From kayaking to swimming in Spanish, check out the following table for more!
| English | Spanish | IPA | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canoeing | El canotaje | kanoˈtaxe | ca-no-ta-heh |
| Outrigger canoeing | El canotaje polinésico | kanoˈtaxe poliˈnesiko | ca-no-ta-heh po-lee-neh-see-co |
| Kayaking | El kayakismo | kaʝaˈkis̬mo | ka-ya-keys-mo |
| Sea kayaking | El kayakismo de mar | kaʝaˈkis̬mo ðe ˈmaɾ | ka-ya-keys-mo |
| Rafting | El balsismo | βalˈsis̬mo | bal-sees-mo |
| Rowing | El remo | ˈremo | reh-mo |
| Dragon boating | El piragüismo de barco de dragón | piɾaˈɣwis̬mo ðe ˈβaɾko ðe ðɾaˈɣõn | pee-ra-goo-ees-mo deh bar-co deh dra-gon |
| Standup paddleboarding | El surf de pala | ˈsuɾf ðe ˈpala | surf deh pa-la |
| Water polo | El waterpolo | watɛɾˈpolo | waterpolo |
| Canoe Polo | El kayak polo | kaˈʝak ˈpolo | ka-yak po-lo |
| Stone skipping | Hacer patito | aˈsɛɾ paˈtito | ah-ser pa-tee-toe |
| Underwater rugby | El rugby subacuático | ˈruɣβi suβaˈkwatiko | roog-bee soob-ah-coo-ah-tee-co |
| Underwater hockey | El hockey subacuático | ok̚ˈkei̯ suβaˈkwatiko | hoh-key soob-ah-coo-ah-tee-co |
| Swimming | La natación | nataˈsjõn | na-ta-see-on |
| Backstroke | El estilo espalda | ɛsˈtilo ɛsˈpalda | es-tee-lo es-pal-da |
| Breaststroke | El estilo braza | ɛsˈtilo ˈβɾasa | es-tee-lo bra-za |
| Butterfly stroke | El estilo mariposa | ɛsˈtilo maɾiˈposa | es-tee-lo ma-ree-po-sa |
| Medley | El medley | mɛðˈlei̯ | medley |
| Synchronized swimming | La natación sincronizada | nataˈsjõn sĩnkɾoniˈsaða | na-ta-see-on seen-cro-nee-za-da |
| Finswimming | La natación con aletas | nataˈsjõn kon aˈlɛtas | na-ta-see-on con ah-tleh-tas |
| Freediving | La apnea | ap̚ˈnea | ap-neh-ah |
| Scuba diving | El buzo | ˈβuso | boo-zo |
| Spearfishing | La pesca submarina | ˈpɛska suβmaˈɾina | pes-ca soob-ma-ree-na |
| Snorkeling | El esnórquel | ɛs̬ˈnoɾkɛl | es-nor-kel |
Net-and-ball sports
Net-and-ball sports are extremely popular all over the world. After all, who doesn’t enjoy a nice game of badminton or playing volleyball at the beach? If you’re a fan of these sports, we’ll show you how to say badminton and volleyball in Spanish!
| English | Spanish | IPA | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Badminton | El bádminton | ˈβaðmĩntõn | bad-meen-ton |
| Bossaball | El bossaball | βossaˈβaʝ | bossaball |
| Fistball | El faustball | fau̯stˈβaʝ | faustball |
| Football tennis | El fútbol-tenis | ˈfutβoltenis | foot-boll teh-nees |
| Padel | El pádel | ˈpaðɛl | pa-dell |
| Pickleball | El pickleball | pik̚kleˈβaʝ | pickleball |
| Volleyball | El voleibol | βolei̯ˈβol | vol-eh-e-bol |
Racket sports
Many racket sports are also net-and-ball sports, but not all of them are! Many racket sports don’t involve a racket at all, such as racquetball and crossminton. Others, like the wildly popular tennis, are both racket and net and ball sports. If you’re a racket sports fan, check out the table below to learn how to say tennis in Spanish!
| English | Spanish | IPA | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tennis | El tenis | ˈtenis | teh-nees |
| Table tennis | El tenis de mesa | ˈtenis̬ ðe ˈmesa | teh-nees deh meh-sa |
| Frontenis | El frontenis | fɾõnˈtenis | frontenis |
| Crossminton | El Crossminton | kɾoss̬ˈmĩntõn | crossminton |
| Racquetball | El raquetbol | rakɛtˈβol | raquet-bol |
| Squash | El squash | ˈskas | squash |
| Beach tennis | El tenis playa | ˈtenis ˈplaʝa | teh-nees pla-ya |
| Paddle tennis | El Paddle tennis | ˈpaððle ˈtɛ̃nnis | paddle tennis |
Equestrian sports
They say dogs are a human’s best friend, but what about horses? Many consider horses to be family members, as these majestic animals can form deep and unique bonds with their humans. If you’ve ever owned a horse before, you’re probably dying to learn how to say equestrian sports!
| English | Spanish | IPA | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equestrian sports | Los deportes ecuestres | deˈpoɾtes eˈkwɛstɾes | deh-pore-tes eh-coo-ehs-tres |
| Buzkashi | El buzkashi | βusˈkasi | buzkashi |
| Charrería | La charrería | ʧarɛˈɾia | cha-reh-ree-ah |
| Chilean rodeo | El rodeo chileno | roˈðeo ʧiˈleno | ro-deh-oh chee-leh-no |
| Cross-country riding | El cross-country | kɾossˈkou̯ntɾi | cross-country |
| Dressage | La doma clásica | ˈðoma ˈklasika | do-ma clah-see-ca |
| Endurance riding | El enduro ecuestre | ɛ̃nˈduɾo eˈkwɛstɾe | ehn-doo-ro eh-coo-es-treh |
| Equitation | La equitación | ekitaˈsjõn | eh-key-ta-see-on |
| Eventing | El concurso completo | kõnˈkuɾso kõmˈplɛto | con-coor-so com-pleh-toe |
| Equestrian vaulting | El volteo | βolˈteo | vol-teh-oh |
| Harness racing | Las carreras de trotones | kaˈrɛɾas̬ ðe tɾoˈtones | ca-reh-ras deh tro-to-nes |
| Horse racing | El turf | ˈtuɾf | turf |
| Polo | El polo | ˈpolo | po-lo |
| Horseball | El horseball | oɾseˈβaʝ | horseball |
| Jousting | La justa | ˈxusta | hoos-ta |
| Mounted archery | El tiro con arco a caballo | ˈtiɾo kon ˈaɾko a kaˈβaʝo | tee-ro con ar-co ah ca-bah-yo |
| Pato | El pato | ˈpato | pa-toe |
| Rodeo | El rodeo | roˈðeo | ro-deh-oh |
| Show jumping | El salto | ˈsalto | sal-toe |
| Team penning | El team penning | teˈãm pɛ̃nˈnĩnɡ | team penning |
| Tent pegging | El tent pegging | ˈtẽnt ‘pɛɣĩnɡ | tent pegging |
Football in Spanish
If you’ve spent time in Spain or Latin America before, you must already know how intensely Spanish speakers care about football. If you’re from the US, you should start getting used to one significant difference in terminology when talking about football in Spanish.
In Spanish, football (fútbol) refers to soccer, whereas American football (fútbol americano) refers to what is regularly known as football in the US!
| English | Spanish | IPA | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Football (soccer) | El fútbol | ˈfutβol | foot-boll |
| Mob football | El fútbol de carnaval | ˈfutβol de kaɾnaˈβal | foot-boll deh car-na-val |
| Jorkyball | El Jorkyball | xoɾkiˈβaʝ | jorkyball |
| Beach soccer | El fútbol playa | ˈfutβol ˈplaʝa | foot-boll pla-ya |
| Indoor soccer | El fútbol rápido | ˈfutβol ˈrapiðo | foot-boll ra-pee-doe |
| Street football | El fútbol callejero | ˈfutβol kaʝeˈxɛɾo | foot-boll cah-yeh-heh-ro |
| Australian football | El fútbol australiano | ˈfutβol au̯stɾaˈljano | foot-boll ah-oos-tra-lee-ah-no |
| Gaelic football | El fútbol gaélico | ˈfutβol ɣaˈeliko | foot-boll gah-eh-lee-co |
| American football | El fútbol americano | ˈfutβol amɛɾiˈkano | foot-boll ah-meh-re-ca-no |
| Canadian football | El fútbol canadiense | ˈfutβol kanaˈðjɛ̃nse | foot-boll cah-na-dee-ehn-seh |
| Rugby | El rugby | ˈruɣβi | roog-bee |
| Touch football | El rugby sin contacto | ˈruɣβi sĩn kõnˈtak̚to | roog-bee seen con-tact-toe |
Ice and snow sports
If you happen to live in a place with harsh winters, you’re probably an ice and snow sport enthusiast. From skiing to ice skating, there is plenty of fun to be had even when the temperature is below zero!
| English | Spanish | IPA | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snowboarding | El snowboard | s̬nowˈβo | snowboard |
| Skiing | El esquí | ɛsˈki | es-key |
| Bandy | El bandy | ˈβãndi | brandy |
| Broomball | El broomball | βɾoõmˈbaʝ | broomball |
| Curling | El curling | kuɾˈlĩnɡ | curling |
| Ice skating | El patinaje en hielo | patiˈnaxɛ ɛ̃n ˈɟʝelo | pa-tee-na-heh ehn e-eh-lo |
| Figure skating | El patinaje artístico sobre hielo | patiˈnaxe aɾˈtistiko ˈsoβɾe ˈʝelo | pa-tee-na-heh ar-tees-tee-co so-breh e-eh-lo |
| Ice climbing | La escalada en hielo | ɛskaˈlaða ɛ̃n ˈɟʝelo | es-ca-la-da ehn e-eh-lo |
| Ice hockey | El hockey sobre hielo | ok̚ˈkei̯ ˈsoβɾe ˈʝelo | hoh-ke so-breh e-eh-lo |
| Speed skating | El patinaje de velocidad sobre hielo | patiˈnaxe ðe βelosiˈðað ˈsoβɾe ˈʝelo | pa-tee-na-heh deh veh-lo-see-dad so-breh e-eh-l0 |
Combat sports
Although combat sports are usually associated with Asian countries (taekwondo, sumo wrestling, karate, etc), they are also very popular in Latin America. From boxing to lucha libre, and even some of the Asian combat sports mentioned earlier, many Spanish speakers practice or enjoy watching combat sports.
| English | Spanish | IPA | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jujutsu | El ju-jutsu | xuˈxutsu | yu-yoot-soo |
| Judo | El judo | ˈxuðo | yu-doo |
| Aikido | El aikido | ai̯ˈkiðo | aikido |
| Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu | El jiu-jitsu brasileño | xjuˈxitsu βɾasiˈleɲo | jiu-jitsu bra-see-leh-nyo |
| Sambo | El SAMBO | ˈsãmbo | sam-bo |
| Sumo | El sumo | ˈsumo | sumo |
| Wrestling | La lucha | ˈluʧa | loo-cha |
| Folk wrestling | La lucha tradicional | ˈluʧa tɾaðisjoˈnal | loo-cha tra-dee-see-oh-nal |
| Freestyle wrestling | La lucha libre | ˈluʧa ˈliβɾe | loo-cha lee-breh |
| Lucha libre | La lucha libre mexicana | ˈluʧa ˈliβɾe mexiˈkana | loo-cha lee-breh meh-he-ca-na |
| Greek wrestling | La lucha griega | ˈluʧa ˈɣɾjeɣa | loo-cha gree-eh-ga |
| Bajiquan | El bājíquán | bai̯ˈxiʧwãn | baijiquan |
| Boxing | El boxeo | βokˈseo | box-eh-oh |
| Capoeira | La Capoeira | kapoˈei̯ɾa | ca-po-eh-e-ra |
| Chess boxing | El ajedrez boxeo | axeˈðɾes̬ βokˈseo | ah-heh-drez box-eh-oh |
| Karate | El karate | kaˈɾate | ka-ra-teh |
| Kenpō | El Kenpo | ˈkɛ̃mpo | kenpo |
| Kickboxing | El kickboxing | kik̚kβokˈsĩnɡ | kickboxing |
| Burmese boxing | El boxeo birmano | βokˈseo βiɾˈmano | box-eh-oh be-ma-re-no |
| Muay Thai | El boxeo tailandés | βokˈseo tai̯lãnˈdes | box-eh-oh ta-e-lan-des |
| Pradal Serey | El prodal | pɾoˈðal | prodal |
| Shaolin Kung Fu | El Shaolin Kungfu | saˈolĩn ˈkũnɡfu | shaolin kungfu |
| Taekwondo | El taekwondo | taeˈkwõndo | taekwondo |
| Bando | El bando | ˈβãndo | bando |
| Mixed martial arts | Las artes marciales mixtas | ˈaɾtes̬ maɾˈsjales̬ ˈmikstas | ar-tes mar-see-ah-les mix-tas |
| Ninjutsu | El ninjutsu | nĩnˈxutsu | ninjutsu |
| Tai chi | El taichí | tai̯ˈʧi | taichi |
| Fencing | La esgrima | ɛs̬ˈɣɾima | es-gree-ma |
| Tahtib | La esgrima con palos egipcia | ɛs̬ˈɣɾima kõm ˈpalos eˈxipsja | es-gree-ma con pa-los eh-heep-see-ah |
| Kendo | El kendo | ˈkɛ̃ndo | ken-do |
| Chinese martial arts | Las artes marciales de China | ˈaɾtes̬ maɾˈsjales̬ ðe ˈʧina | ar-tes mar-see-ah-les deh chee-na |
| Sword fighting | Las peleas de espadas | peˈleas̬ ðɛ ɛsˈpaðas | peh-leh-as deh es-pa-das |
Motorized sports
Although motorcycles and trucks may not be the first thing to come to mind when you think of sports, there are plenty of professionals and spectators who would beg to differ! Considered extreme sports, most motorized sports should be played with extreme caution and under the supervision of professionals.
| English | Spanish | IPA | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autocross | El autoeslalon | au̯toɛs̬ˈlalõn | ah-oo-toe-ehs-la-lon |
| Banger racing | Las carreras de bánger | kaˈrɛɾas̬ ðe ˈβãnxɛɾ | ca-reh-ras deh banger |
| Demolition derby | Las carrera de destrucción | kaˈrɛɾa ðe ðɛstɾukˈsjõn | ca-reh-ras deh des-trooc-see-ohn |
| Drag racing | Las carreras de aceleración | kaˈrɛɾas̬ ðe aselɛɾaˈsjõn | ca-reh-ras deh ah-seh-leh-ra-see-on |
| Drifting | El drifting | dɾifˈtĩnɡ | drifting |
| Endurance racing | Una carrera de resistencia | kaˈrɛɾa ðe resisˈtɛ̃nsja | ca-reh-ra deh reh-sees-tehn-see-ah |
| Formula Libre | La Fórmula Libre | ˈfoɾmula ˈliβɾe | for-moo-la lee-breh |
| Hillclimbing | Las carreras de montaña | kaˈrɛɾas̬ ðe mõnˈtaɲa | ca-reh-ras deh mon-ta-nyah |
| Kart racing | El karting | kaɾˈtĩnɡ | karting |
| Rally raid | El rally raid | ˈraʝi ˈrai̯ð | rally raid |
| Rallying | Un rally | ˈraʝi | rally |
| Road racing | El automovilismo de velocidad | au̯tomoβiˈlis̬mo ðe βelosiˈðað | ah-ooh-to-mo-vee-lees-mo deh veh-lo-see-dad |
| Sports car racing | Las carreras de automóviles deportivos | kaˈrɛɾas̬ ðe au̯toˈmoβiles̬ ðepoɾˈtiβos | ca-reh-ras deh ah-ooh-toe-mo-vee-les deh-pore-tee-vos |
| Street racing | Una carrera ilegal | kaˈrɛɾa i̯leˈɣal | ca-reh-ra e-leh-gal |
| Truck racing | Las carreras de camiones | kaˈrɛɾas̬ ðe kaˈmjones | ca-reh-ra deh ca-me-oh-nes |
| Vintage motorsport | El automovilismo histórico | au̯tomoβiˈlis̬mo i̯sˈtoɾiko | ah-ooh-toe-mo-vee-lees-mo es-toe-ree-co |
| Freestyle motocross | El motociclismo estilo libre | motosiˈklis̬mo ɛsˈtilo ˈliβɾe | mo-toe-see-klees-mo ehs-tee-lo lee-breh |
| Grand Prix motorcycle racing | El Campeonato Mundial de Motociclismo | kãmpeoˈnato mũnˈdjal de motosiˈklis̬mo | cam-peh-oh-na-toe moon-dee-al deh mo-toe-see-klees-mo |
| Motocross | El motocrós | motoˈkɾos | mo-toe-cross |
| Off-roading | El todoterreno | toðotɛˈreno | toe-doe-teh-reh-no |
| Superbike racing | Una carrera de superbikes | kaˈrɛɾa ðe supɛɾˈβikes | ca-reh-ra deh superbikes |
Mind sports
No, these are not the same as mind games, although many would make those seem like a sport as well! Mind sports refer to games that require significant thought, planning, and strategy, such as poker or Texas hold’em. Whether these are actually sports or not is quite contentious, but we’re not here to judge!
| English | Spanish | IPA | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contract bridge | El bridge de contrato | ˈβɾiðxe ðe kõnˈtɾato | bridge deh con-tra-toe |
| Poker | El póquer | ˈpokɛɾ | poker |
| Skat | El Skat | ˈskat | skat |
| Truco | El truco | ˈtɾuko | troo-co |
| Whist | El whist | ˈwist | whist |
| Omaha hold 'em | El Omaha holdem | oˈmaxa xolˈdɛ̃m | omaha holdem |
| Texas hold 'em | El Texas holdem | ˈtɛksas xolˈdɛ̃m | texas holdem |
eSports
One of the most recent developments in the world of sports is the rise in popularity of eSports. These were developed as technology advanced and computers became more accessible to people all over the world. Nowadays, there are major eSports championships all around the world with championship awards of as much as $40 million!
| English | Spanish | IPA | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battle royale game | La batalla real | βaˈtaʝa reˈal | ba-ta-ya reh-al |
| Combat flight simulators | Los simuladores de vuelo de combate | simulaˈðoɾes̬ ðe ˈβwelo ðe kõmˈbate | see-moo-la-doe-res deh voo-eh-lo deh com-ba-teh |
| A fighting game | Un videojuego de lucha | biðeoˈxweɣo ðe ˈluʧa | vee-deh-oh-hoo-eh-go deh loo-cha |
| First-person shooter | Un videojuego de disparos en primera persona | biðeoˈxweɣo ðe ðisˈpaɾos ɛ̃m pɾiˈmɛɾa pɛɾˈsona | vee-deh-oh-hoo-eh-go deh dees-pa-ros ehn pree-meh-ra pear-so-na |
| Multiplayer online battle arena | Los videojuegos multijugador de arena de batalla en línea | βiðeoˈxweɣos̬ multixuɣaˈðoɾ ðe aˈɾena ðe βaˈtaʝa ɛ̃n ˈlinea | vee-deh-oh-hoo-eh-gos mool-tee-hoo-ga-dore deh ah-reh-na deh ba-ta-ya ehn lee-neh-ah |
| Real-time strategy | Los videojuegos de estrategia en tiempo real | βiðeoˈxweɣos̬ ðɛ ɛstɾaˈtexja ɛ̃n ˈtjɛ̃mpo reˈal | vee-deh-oh-hoo-eh-gos deh es-tra-teh-he-ah ehn tee-ehm-po reh-al |
| Rhythm game | El juego de ritmo | ˈxweɣo ðe ˈrit̚mo | hoo-eh-go deh reet-mo |
| Simulated racing | El automovilismo virtual | au̯tomoβiˈlis̬mo βiɾˈtwal | ah-ooh-toe-mo-vee-lees-mo veer-too-al |
| Third-person shooter | Un videojuego de disparos en tercera persona | biðeoˈxweɣo ðe ðisˈpaɾos ɛ̃n tɛɾˈsɛɾa pɛɾˈsona | vee-deh-oh-hoo-eh-go deh dees-pa-ros ehn ter-seh-ra pear-so-na |
| Virtual reality game | Un juego de realidad virtual | ˈxweɣo ðe realiˈðað βiɾˈtwal | hoo-eh-go deh reh-ah-lee-dad veer-too-al |
Other sports and games in Spanish
Sports are so diverse and inventive that naturally many don’t fit one particular category. Here, you’ll find many “misfits” or unique sports that don’t fall into any of the above categories. Enjoy the following table with some fun sports and games in Spanish!
| English | Spanish | IPA | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Competitive programming | La programación competitiva | pɾoɣɾamaˈsjõn kõmpɛtiˈtiβa | pro-gra-ma-see-on com-peh-tee-tee-va |
| Debate | El debate | deˈβate | deh-ba-teh |
| Fantasy sport | Un deporte de fantasía | deˈpoɾte ðe fãntaˈsia | deh-pore-teh deh fan-ta-see-ah |
| Speedcubing | El speedcubing | sˈpeɛðcuβĩnɡ | speedcubing |
| Arm wrestling | Pulsear | pulseˈaɾ | pul-seh-are |
| CrossFit | El CrossFit | kɾossˈfit | crossfit |
| Bodybuilding | El fisicoculturismo | fisikokultuˈɾis̬mo | fee-see-co-cool-too-rees-mo |
| Powerlifting | El levantamiento de potencia | leβãntaˈmjɛ̃nto ðe poˈtɛ̃nsja | leh-van-ta-mee-ehn-toe deh po-tehn-see-ah |
| Bowling | Los bolos | ˈβolos | bo-los |
| Pétanque | La petanca | pɛˈtãnka | peh-tan-ca |
| Shooting sports | El tiro deportivo | ˈtiɾo ðepoɾˈtiβo | tee-ro deh-pore-tee-vo |
Competitive board games in Spanish
Similarly to eSports, competitive board games also have major championships that captivate hundreds of thousands of spectators. Just like the Netflix show, The Queen’s Gambit captivated millions of viewers with its intricate chess storyline, competitive board games can also draw big crowds.
| English | Spanish | IPA | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Backgammon | El backgammon | βak̚kˈɣãmmõn | backgammon |
| Checkers | Las damas | ˈðamas | da-mas |
| Chess | El ajedrez | axeˈðɾes | ah-heh-drez |
| Chinese checkers | Las damas chinas | ˈðamas ˈʧinas | dah-mas chee-nas |
| Dominoes | El dominó | domiˈno | doe-mi-no |
| Mahjong | El mahjong | maˈxõnɡ | mahjong |
| Scrabble | El scrabble | ˈskɾaβl | scrabble |
| Sudoku | El sudoku | suˈðoku | sudoku |
| Air hockey | El aero-jóquey | aɛɾoˈxoki̯ | ah-eh-ro-ho-key |
Sports-related phrases in Spanish
On top of sports, there are a few related vocabulary words that you should learn to round out your sports vocabulary. Below you’ll find a list of some helpful words for sports venues, different types of matches, and even players!
| English | Spanish | IPA | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Athlete | Un atleta | at̚ˈlɛta | ah-tleh-ta |
| Team | Un equipo | eˈkipo | eh-key-po |
| Coach | Un entrenador | ɛ̃ntɾenaˈðoɾ | en-treh-na-door |
| Field | Un campo | ˈkãmpo | cam-po |
| Rink | Una pista | ˈpista | pees-ta |
| Pool | Una alberca | alˈβɛɾka | al-bear-ca |
| Court | Una cancha | ˈkãnʧa | can-cha |
| Doubles | Dobles | ˈdoβles | do-bles |
| Match | Un partido | paɾˈtiðo | par-tee-doe |
| Sports venue | Un lugar de deportes | luˈɣaɾ ðe ðeˈpoɾtes | loo-gar deh deh-pore-tes |
| Sports equipment | Equipo deportivo | eˈkipo ðepoɾˈtiβo | eh-key-po deh-pore-tee-vo |
| Arena | Una arena | aˈɾena | ah-reh-na |
| Track | Una pista | ˈpista | pees-ta |
| Goalkeeper | Un portero | poɾˈtɛɾo | pore-teh-ro |
| Player | Un jugador | xuɣaˈðoɾ | hoo-ga-door |
| Amateur | Amateur | amaˈteu̯ɾ | ah-mah-toor |
| Award | Un premio | ˈpɾemjo | preh-me-oh |
| Captain | El capitán | kapiˈtãn | ca-pee-tan |
| Champion | El campeón | kãmpeˈõn | cam-peh-ohn |
| Contest | El concurso | kõnˈkuɾso | con-coor-so |
| Cup | La copa | ˈkopa | co-pa |
| Event | Un evento | eˈβɛ̃nto | eh-vehn-toe |
| Fan | Un aficionado | afisjoˈnaðo | ah-fee-see-oh-na-doe |
| Final score | La puntuación final | pũntwaˈsjõm fiˈnal | poon-too-ah-see-ohn fee-nal |
| Fitness | La aptitud física | ap̚tiˈtuð ˈfisika | ap-tee-tood fee-see-ca |
| Goal | La portería | poɾtɛˈɾia | pore-teh-ree-ah |
| Gym | El gimnasio | xĩmˈnasjo | him-na-see-oh |
| Half-time | El medio tiempo | ˈmeðjo ˈtjɛ̃mpo | meh-dee-oh tee-ehm-po |
| Judge | El juez | ˈxwes | who-ez |
| League | La liga | ˈliɣa | lee-ga |
| Medal | Una medalla | meˈðaʝa | meh-da-ya |
| Offside | Un fuera de lugar | ˈfwɛɾa ðe luˈɣaɾ | foo-eh-ra deh-loo-gar |
| Opponent | Un adversario | aðβɛɾˈsaɾjo | ad-ver-sah-ree-oh |
| Professional | Un profesional | pɾofesjoˈnal | pro-feh-see-oh-nal |
| Record | Un récord | ˈrekoɾð | reh-cord |
| Referee | El árbitro | ˈaɾβitɾo | ar-bee-troh |
| Rules | Las reglas | ˈreɣlas | reh-glas |
| Score | El puntaje | pũnˈtaxe | poon-tah-heh |
| Skill | La habilidad | aβiliˈðað | ah-bee-lee-dad |
| Spectator | Un espectador | ɛspek̚taˈðoɾ | ehs-pec-ta-door |
| Teammate | Un compañero de equipo | kõmpaˈɲɛɾo ðe eˈkipo | com-pa-nyeh-ro deh eh-key-po |
| Tournament | Un torneo | toɾˈneo | tore-neh-oh |
| Trainer | Un entrenador | ɛ̃ntɾenaˈðoɾ | ehn-treh-na-door |
| Trophy | Un trofeo | tɾoˈfeo | tro-feh-oh |
| Victory | La victoria | βik̚ˈtoɾja | vic-tore-e-ah |
| Whistle | Un silbato | silˈβato | seel-ba-toe |
Example conversations
Want more real-life examples of sports conversation? Check out the example conversation below between two friends. One of them is nervous because he’s going to the snow but doesn’t know how to ski, and his friend gives him some uplifting words.
| English | Spanish | IPA | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Can you ski? | ¿Sabes esquiar? | ˈsaβes ɛsˈkjaɾ ‖ | sah-bes es-key-are |
| No, I can’t ski, but I can snowboard. Can you? | No, no sé esquiar, pero sé andar en snowboard. ¿Y tú? | ˈno | ˈno ˈse ɛsˈkjaɾ | ˈpɛɾo ˈse ãnˈdaɾ ɛ̃n s̬nowˈβo ‖ i ˈtu ‖ | no, no seh es-key-are, pear-oh seh an-dar ehn snowboard. y too |
| No, I’m going on a trip soon, and I’m nervous. I can ice skate, but I’ve never skied before. | No, me voy de viaje pronto y estoy nervioso. Sé patinar sobre hielo, pero nunca he esquiado. | ˈno | me ˈβoi̯ ðe ˈβjaxe ˈpɾõnto j ɛsˈtoi̯ nɛɾˈβjoso ‖ ˈse patiˈnaɾ ˈsoβɾe ˈʝelo | ˈpɛɾo ˈnũnka ˈe ɛsˈkjaðo ‖ | no, meh voy deh vee-ah-heh pron-toe e ehs-toy ner-vee-oh-so. seh pa-tee-nar so-breh e-eh-lo pear-oh noon-ca eh es-key-ah-doe |
| You’ll get the hang of it in no time! All ice sports are very similar. | ¡Vas a aprender muy rápido! Todos los deportes de hielo son muy similares. | ˈbas a apɾɛ̃nˈdɛɾ mwi ˈrapiðo ‖ ˈtoðos̬ los̬ ðeˈpoɾtes̬ ðe ˈʝelo ˈsõm mwi simiˈlaɾes ‖ | vas ah ah-pren-der mooy ra-pee-doe. toe-dos los deh-pore-tes deh e-eh-lo son mooy see-me-la-res |
| Do you think so? I’m usually very sporty, but I’ve never been to the snow. | ¿Eso crees? Normalmente soy muy deportista, pero nunca he ido a la nieve. | ˈeso ˈkɾees ‖ noɾmalˈmɛ̃nte ˈsoi̯ mwi ðepoɾˈtista | ˈpɛɾo ˈnũnka ˈe ˈiðo a la ˈnjeβe ‖ | eh-so creehs? nore-mal-mehn-teh soy mooy deh-pore-tees-ta, pear-oh noon-ca eh ee-doe ah la nee-eh-veh |
| If you’re good at soccer, you’ll be a fine skier. | Si eres bueno para jugar fútbol, entonces serás un buen esquiador. | sj ˈɛɾes̬ ˈβweno ˈpaɾa xuˈɣaɾ ˈfutβol | ɛ̃nˈtõnses sɛˈɾas ũm ˈbwɛn ɛskjaˈðoɾ ‖ | see eh-res boo-eh-no pa-ra who-gar foot-boll, ehn-ton-sehs seh-ras oohn boo-ehn es-key-ah-door |
| I’m a great soccer player! I also do yoga quite often. | ¡Soy un gran jugador de fútbol! También hago yoga muy seguido. | ˈsoj ũn ˈɡɾãn xuɣaˈðoɾ ðe ˈfutβol ‖ tãmˈbjɛn ˈaɣo ˈʝoɣa mwi seˈɣiðo ‖ | soy oohn gran who-ga-door deh foot-boll! tahm-bee-ehn ah-go yo-gah mooy seh-gee-doe |
| Oh, then you’ll ski like a pro in no time! | Ah, ¡entonces esquiarás como profesional de volada! | ˈa | ɛ̃nˈtõnses ɛskjaˈɾas ˈkomo pɾofesjoˈnal de βoˈlaða ‖ | ah, ehn-ton-sehs es-key-ah-ras co-mo pro-feh-see-oh-nal deh vo-la-da |
Example conversations whilst playing sports
If you’re already itching to get in the court or have already committed yourself to playing sports with some Spanish speakers, you’ll want to check out the following conversation. This is an example of a conversation between two friends after a soccer game where they discuss some of the highlights of the match.
| English | Spanish | IPA | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wow, what a great game! | Wow, ¡qué buen partido! | ˈwow | ˈke ˈβwɛ̃m paɾˈtiðo ‖ | wow, keh boo-ehn par-tee-doe |
| Yeah! That second half was really tough, but we managed to beat you in the end! | ¡Sí! Esa segunda mitad estuvo muy reñida, pero logramos ganarles al final! | ˈsi ‖ ˈesa seˈɣũnda miˈtað ɛsˈtuβo mwi reˈɲiða | ˈpɛɾo loˈɣɾamos̬ ɣaˈnaɾles al fiˈnal ‖ | see! eh-sa seh-goon-da mee-tad es-too-vo mooy reh-nyeh-da, pear-oh lo-gra-moss ga-nar-les al fee-nal |
| You were lucky! If it hadn’t been for that offside, we would’ve won! | ¡Tuvieron suerte! Si no hubiera sido por ese fuera de lugar, ¡les hubiéramos ganado! | tuˈβjɛɾõn ˈswɛɾte ‖ si ˈno u̯ˈβjɛɾa ˈsiðo poɾ ˈese ˈfwɛɾa ðe luˈɣaɾ | ˈles uˈβjɛɾamos̬ ɣaˈnaðo ‖ | too-vee-eh-ron soo-air-teh! see no ooh-bee-air-ah see-do pore eh-seh foo-eh-ra deh loo-gar les ooh-bee-air-ah-mos ga-na-doe |
| Yeah, you really had it in the bag the first half! | Si, en verdad la tenían de ganar durante la primera mitad! | si | ɛ̃m bɛɾˈðað la teˈniãn de ɣaˈnaɾ ðuˈɾãnte la pɾiˈmɛɾa miˈtað ‖ | see, ehn ver-dad la teh-nee-an deh ga-nar doo-ran-teh la pree-meh-ra mee-tad! |
Most popular sports in different Spanish-speaking countries
No matter where you’re from, you’ll likely find some new and some familiar sports as you travel through the Spanish-speaking countries. If you’re wondering what the most popular sports are in different Spanish-speaking countries, you’ve come to the right place.
Soccer
Soccer is–by far–the most popular sport in Spain and Latin America. With many professional soccer leagues like Spain’s Real Madrid and FC Barcelona, there is plenty of interest in professional soccer.
Soccer is so popular, in fact, that one of the most popular original Spanish-language Netflix shows revolves around a football club! Netflix’s Club de Cuervos is a hilarious Mexican comedy-drama that deals with a fictitious soccer club and its owners. Watch this if you’re looking for a funny yet effective way to learn Spanish!
Baseball
You might think that baseball is as American as apple pie, but it is also wildly popular across Latin America! The Caribbean World Series is the largest baseball championship in Latin America, with seven different Latin American countries as yearly participants. The championship is rotated among the member countries.
The member countries of the Caribbean World Series are:
- Colombia
- Cuba
- The Dominican Republic
- Mexico
- Panama
- Puerto Rico
- Venezuela
So, if you’re a baseball fan and are looking for a Spanish-speaking country that shares your passion, any of the countries above will be a safe bet!
Bullfighting
The practice of bullfighting has been a part of Spanish culture for well over a thousand years, dating back to the eighth century. This sport consists of a bullfighter (known as el torero) repeatedly teasing a bull to prompt an attack. The bullfighter must dodge the attack and stab the bull with a sword until the bull collapses and dies.
While this sport is still very popular in Spain and some Latin American countries, its popularity has been drastically decreasing due to concerns about animal abuse. Many cities have chosen to ban the sport altogether. For example, Mexico City recently issued an indefinite ban on bullfighting within the city limits.
Boxing
Boxing is an extremely popular sport in many Latin American countries, but especially so in Mexico and Panama. Some of the best boxers in the world come from these two regions, making them true powerhouses in the industry.
Perhaps Mexico is the Spanish-speaking country with the most fanaticism for boxing. After all, Mexico is the birthplace of many combat sports like lucha libre. If you ever find yourself in Mexico City, make sure to attend a lucha libre match at Arena México!
Cycling
If you thought cycling was only popular in France, you might want to think again! Of course, people cycle for fun all over the world, but where else do people watch a cycling event like they do every year in France when the Tour de France is going on? Well, Spain!
La Vuelta a España is the Spanish version of the Tour and was established in 1935. It’s been held annually since 1955 and attracts thousands of viewers every year. If you’re into cycling, look no further than Spain!
Football?
Okay, maybe you’re a born-and-bred American and have a passion for (American) football. But you also want to learn Spanish! Does that mean you’d have to give up football in order to move to a Spanish-speaking country? Not necessarily!
If you’re a fan of the NFL, you probably already know that Mexico City hosts at least one NFL game every year. That’s because there’s a large NFL fanbase in Mexico that is eager to fill up the stadium to enjoy the game.
In fact, la Liga de Fútbol Americano Profesional was founded in Mexico in 2016 to foster this interest in football in Mexico. The league continues to expand and currently has seven teams from across the country.
So, if you’d like an immersive Spanish-learning experience where you can also practice football, Mexico would be the perfect place for you!
Game, set, match!
Now that you’ve covered over 300 sports vocabulary words in Spanish, nothing could take you down. Whether you’re an inspired athlete with Olympic ambitions or simply want to make new friends and have a good time, you’ll surely find a way to put your newly-acquired vocabulary to good use.
And don’t forget to stay hydrated as you’re working up a sweat playing sports! Our guide to beverages in Spanish will help you replenish those electrolytes as you exercise. And don’t neglect your diet, either! Check out our guides to fruits and vegetables in Spanish to ensure peak performance as you play your favorite sports.
If you enjoyed this guide, be sure to check out the rest of our fun and helpful Spanish guides! We will teach you thousands of useful vocabulary words in easy-to-follow guides to help you improve your Spanish. Oh, and best of all? They’re all completely free!
