juegan
/HWEH-gahn/
they play
They play (juegan) soccer in the park.
juegan(Verb)
they play
?games, sports
you all play
?formal plural (ustedes)
,they are playing
?present continuous action
📝 In Action
Mis hijos juegan al fútbol todos los fines de semana.
A1My children play soccer every weekend.
¿Ustedes juegan cartas después de cenar?
A2Do you all play cards after dinner?
Ellas nunca juegan videojuegos, prefieren leer.
A1They never play video games; they prefer to read.
💡 Grammar Points
The Irregular 'U to UE' Change
Jugar is a 'boot verb.' Notice how the 'u' changes to 'ue' (jUgar -> jUEgan). This change happens in most forms, but NOT when talking about 'we' (nosotros jugamos) or 'you all' (vosotros jugáis).
Using 'A' for Sports
When talking about playing a specific sport or game, Spanish often uses the little word 'a' (al) right before the game: 'juegan al fútbol' (They play soccer).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using Jugar for Instruments
Mistake: "Ellos juegan la guitarra. (Incorrectly using 'jugar' for instruments)"
Correction: Ellos tocan la guitarra. (Use 'tocar' (to touch/play) for musical instruments, not 'jugar'.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Focus on the Group
Since 'juegan' ends in -n, you know the people doing the action are a group: 'ellos' (they), 'ellas' (they, feminine), or 'ustedes' (you all, formal).
They gamble (juegan) by betting their chips.
juegan(Verb)
they gamble
?betting money
they bet
?taking a risk
📝 In Action
Dicen que juegan mucho en las carreras de caballos.
B1They say they gamble a lot on the horse races.
Los inversores a veces juegan con fuego si no tienen cuidado.
B2Investors sometimes play with fire (take risks) if they are not careful.
They play a role (juegan) in the story.
juegan(Verb)
they play a role
?figurative influence
they factor in
?being an element of importance
📝 In Action
Los factores climáticos juegan un papel importante en la economía agrícola.
B2Climatic factors play an important role in the agricultural economy.
Las emociones juegan en contra de la lógica en esta situación.
C1Emotions weigh against (or play against) logic in this situation.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: juegan
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'juegan' to mean 'to take risks'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is 'juegan' used for sports but not for musical instruments?
In Spanish, 'jugar' is reserved for games, sports, or play activities. When you are talking about playing an instrument (like a guitar or piano), you must use the verb 'tocar' (which literally means 'to touch').
Does 'juegan' always mean 'they play'?
'Juegan' is the form used for 'ellos' (they), 'ellas' (they, feminine), and 'ustedes' (you all, formal). So, it can mean 'they play' or 'you all play,' depending on who you are addressing.