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empate

em-pah-te/emˈpate/

“empate” means “tie” in Spanish (sports or games).

tie, draw

Also: deadlock, standoff
NounmA2
Spain
Two identical soccer balls resting side-by-side on a green grass field with a goal net in the background.

📝 In Action

El partido de fútbol terminó en empate.

A1

The soccer match ended in a tie.

Hubo un empate a dos entre los equipos.

A2

There was a two-two tie between the teams.

Las encuestas muestran un empate técnico entre los candidatos.

B2

The polls show a statistical tie between the candidates.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • igualada (equalizer/tie)
  • tablas (draw (specifically in chess))

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • romper el empate – to break the tie
  • empate a cero – nil-nil draw / scoreless tie
  • gol de empate – equalizing goal

Idioms & Expressions

  • quedar en tablas – to end up even or tied (used outside of chess to mean neither person gained an advantage)

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "empate" in Spanish:

deadlock→draw→standoff→tie→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: empate

Question 1 of 3

If a game of chess ends in a draw, what specific word do Spanish speakers often use instead of 'empate'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
empatar(to tie / to draw) — Verb
desempate(tie-breaker) — Noun
empatado(tied / even) — Adjective
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the Spanish verb 'empatar', which likely comes from the Italian word 'impattare', meaning to be equal or match up. This is related to the word 'pacto' (pact), as a tie was historically seen as an agreement between two parties to end a contest as equals.

First recorded: 17th Century

Cognates (Related words)

Italian: patta

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'empate' and 'tablas'?

'Empate' is a general word for any tie (sports, politics). 'Tablas' is mostly used for chess or as an idiom meaning a situation where no one won or lost.

Is 'empate' always a noun?

Yes, as it appears here. However, 'empate' is also a specific form of the verb 'empatar' (the subjunctive form), but for beginners, it is most important to know it as 'a tie'.

How do I say 'tie-breaker'?

In Spanish, we use the word 'desempate'. You might hear 'partido de desempate' (tie-breaking match) or 'gol de desempate' (tie-breaking goal).