jugador
“jugador” means “player” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
player
Also: gamer, athlete
📝 In Action
El jugador de baloncesto anotó 20 puntos en el partido.
A1The basketball player scored 20 points in the game.
Mi hermano es un jugador experto de ajedrez.
A2My brother is an expert chess player.
Todos los jugadores deben llevar el uniforme del equipo.
A1All the players must wear the team uniform.
gambler
Also: punter
📝 In Action
Se volvió un jugador compulsivo y perdió todos sus ahorros.
B2He became a compulsive gambler and lost all his savings.
El casino está lleno de jugadores de póker.
B1The casino is full of poker players (gamblers).
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: jugador
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'jugador' to mean 'gambler'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word comes directly from the Spanish verb *jugar* (to play), plus the suffix -dor, which is used to create nouns that describe the person who performs the action (like English '-er'). *Jugar* itself comes from the Latin word *iocus*, meaning 'joke' or 'game'.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'jugador' and 'deportista'?
'Jugador' is anyone who plays a game, whether it's soccer, chess, or video games. 'Deportista' is usually reserved for someone who practices a sport (deporte) seriously, often professionally, like an athlete or sportsman.
Can 'jugador' be used as an adjective?
Yes, but it's less common. When used as an adjective, it means someone is 'playful' or 'joking.' For example: 'Es una persona muy jugadora' (He/She is a very playful person).