Euphoria & devastation: these are some of the common emotions associated with sports. Sports make the world go round; it breaks barriers and creates new bonds. Whether as a player or a spectator, sports are exhilarating. However like with every sport, it creates its own icons and legends, Argentina had Maradona, Brazil has Pele and Switzerland has Roger Federer.
Spain is no exception to this as it too has its own icons of various sports that the country participates in. In this article we will be diving into the world of sport where we shall explore Spanish greats and the sports they participated in along with the vocabulary associated with it.
1 – Football Vocabulary
The Spanish national team is one of the most recognizable teams in the world with their deep red jersey. The team has had some heavy weights such as their iconic captain Iker Casillas and probably the hero; Andrés Iniesta who scored the winning goal in the 2010 World Cup. The Spanish National team defined the era of football known as Tiki Taka, where it was dominated by possession (passing) and magnificent movement off of the ball, which would leave a person in awe, it was truly poetry in motion.
Extra time – prórroga
Foul – falta
Goal – gol
Defense – Defensa
Striker – delantero
Offside – fuera de juego
Stadium – estadio
Coach – entrenador/a
Midfield – centro del campo
League – liga
Tackle – entrada
2 – Basketball Vocabulary
At most times, this sport is often associated with the United States with greats such as Michael Jordan, Shaq and LeBron James. However in Spain, the game is a pretty popular sport which attracts a good number of fans. Notable Spanish basketball players include Pau Gasol, Juan Carlos Navarro along with Jose Calderon. Basketball is very popular, just as much as football, as it is found in the ground roots with children participating.
Basket – canasta
Block – taponar
Guard – alero
Rebound – rebote
Free throw – tiro libre
Jump shot – tiro en suspensión
Hoop – aro
Guard – alero/a
Basketball court – cancha
3 – Tennis Vocabulary
Rafael Nadal arguably one of the best players to ever grace the Tennis court, Rafa is the darling of the Spanish faithful. The ‘King of Clay’ they like to call him. As he runs from one end of the court to the other chasing every ball, against the likes of Roger Federer, it shows that he is one of the sports greats. Tennis is a physically demanding sport, as you run from side to side up and down as you take swings at the tennis ball.
Serve – servir
Racket – raqueta
Advantage – ventaja
Baseline – línea de fondo
Ace – saque directo
Game – juego
Deuce – cuarenta iguales
Fault – falta
Racket – raqueta
4 – Formula One Vocabulary
One of the most technical sports in the world, Formula One is considered as the pinnacle of motorsport, as both man and machine are pushed to the extremes of endurance while they hurtle down the track at over 200 miles per hour. This takes some guts, and Fernando Alonso is no stranger to bravery. Considered to be one of the best drivers ever to grace the sport, the two time champion beat the man considered to be the best of best Michael Schumacher, Fernando drives the car with poise and flair that he makes it look effortless.
Pit-stop – parada tecnica
Race – carrera
Grand Prix – Gran Premio
Overtake – rebasar
Strategy – estrategia
Tires – neumatico
Lap – vuelta
Aerodynamics
Chassis – bastidor
Chicane – chicana
Cockpit – cabina de mando
Grip – agarre
Practice – entrenamento
Qualifying – eliminatora
We hope that the above Spanish words will be of use one day when you are sitting in a Spanish Bar, watching one of their legends doing what they do best. If Malaga is your intended destination, and you feel like you need further preparation in Spanish, then you are welcome to apply for our Intensive Spanish Course.
