A green billiard table with a few colorful balls and a wooden cue stick resting on the edge.

billar

bee-YAR

nounmA2

billiards?the general category of cue sports,pool?the specific game with pockets

Also:pool table?the physical piece of furniture,pool hall?the place where the game is played

📝 In Action

Me encanta jugar al billar después de cenar.

I love playing pool after dinner.

Quedamos en el billar de la esquina a las nueve.

We're meeting at the pool hall on the corner at nine.

Ten cuidado de no rayar el paño del billar.

Be careful not to scratch the cloth of the billiard table.

Word Connections

Synonyms

pool (pool (specifically the game with pockets))

Common Collocations

jugar al billar – to play pool/billiards
mesa de billar – pool table
taco de billar – pool cue
bola de billar – billiard ball

💡 Grammar Points

Playing Games with 'Al'

In Spanish, when you play a sport or game, you usually use 'jugar al' followed by the game name. So, it's 'jugar al billar' rather than just 'jugar billar'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Missing the 'Al'

Mistake: "Yo juego billar."

Correction: Yo juego al billar. (Think of it as 'playing at the game'.)

⭐ Usage Tips

One word for many games

While English distinguishes between pool, snooker, and billiards, Spanish speakers often use 'billar' as a catch-all term for any game played with a cue and balls on a table.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: billar

Question 1 of 1

How do you say 'I play pool' naturally in Spanish?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

billarista(billiard player) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'billar' just for the professional sport?

No, it's used for everything from professional billiards to a casual game of pool at a bar with friends.

How do I say 'pool cue'?

You call it a 'taco de billar' or simply a 'taco'.