Learning Spanish Soccer Vocabulary and Phrases
Increase Conversational Ability With Football Words and Expressions
Aug 27, 2009
Whether in Spain or South America, an increased Spanish soccer vocabulary will help in every day Spanish conversation. Native Spanish speakers are often soccer fanatics. If visiting South America or Spain, it is almost a certainty that one will be engaged in a discussion with soccer as the theme.
Here are the most important Spanish soccer words and phrases to help build a thorough Spanish soccer vocabulary. But, firstly, remember that soccer or football in Spanish is fútbol, and footballers are futbolistas.
Spanish Soccer Vocabulary Key Words and Phrases: Positions and Personnel
Here are the Spanish soccer words relevant to on-field positions. Remember that some word endings change depending on whether the subject is male or female. For example, a male goalkeeper would be a portero while a female keeper would be a portera. Some positions also have more than one name in Spanish.
- Goalkeeper – portero/portera. Also arquero/arquera. Also guardameta (male or female)
- Defender – defensa. The defense taken as a whole is la defensa. The back four is also termed la zaga
- Midfielder – mediocampista
- Winger – extremo. Easily remembered as a winger plays on the extremes of the pitch.
- Forward – delantero. A centre forward is a delantero centro, while the attack in general is known as el ataque.
- Captain – capitán
- Manager/Coach – técnico or entrenador
- Referee – árbitro
- Linesman – línier or juez de línier (line judge)
- Fan – hincha
Learn Spanish Soccer Vocabulary Technical Terms and Rules
The football game or match (el partido) is composed of the first half (primer tiempo), half time (medio tiempo or descanso, literally "rest") and the second half (segundo tiempo). Here are some more important Spanish soccer words to remember.
- Foul – falta
- Yellow card – tarjeta amarilla
- Red card – tarjeta roja
- A sending off – una expulsión
- Free kick – tiro libre. These can be direct or indirect (directo o indirecto)
- Penalty – penalti
- Throw-in – saque de banda
- Corner kick – saque de esquina. The English word "corner" is often used in Spanish soccer vocabulary.
- Goal kick – saque de puerta/meta
- Offside – fuera de juego
Get a Conversational Spanish Quick Start with Spanish Soccer Vocabulary and Phrases
Learning the above Spanish soccer vocabulary will give a head-start in conversational Spanish and make talking about soccer much easier.
If invited to an informal kick about with friends one may be invited to a pichanga, especially in South America. If invited to watch a game, sit amongst the spectators (espectadores) in the stadium (estadio) and when the ball (pelota) goes in the net be sure to shout “goooooooooooooooooooooool!”
For some more Spanish learning resources have a look at Free Online Spanish Courses for Beginners.
For a quick-fix vocabulary builder read Quick Tips to Learn Spanish Adjectives.
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