tenis
/teh-nees/
tennis
Tenis refers to the sport of tennis.
📝 In Action
Me gusta ver los partidos de tenis en la televisión.
A1I like watching tennis matches on television.
La cancha de tenis estaba mojada por la lluvia.
A2The tennis court was wet because of the rain.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender Note
Even though 'tenis' ends in 's', it is a singular masculine noun when referring to the sport (el tenis). It is also used as an adjective, as in 'jugador de tenis'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'al'
Mistake: "Me gusta jugar tenis."
Correction: Me gusta jugar al tenis. (In many regions, adding 'al' is standard when talking about playing the sport.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Activity vs. Object
Think of 'tenis' as the name of the activity, which is why it often follows the verb 'jugar' (to play).
In Mexico and Central America, tenis is also the common word for athletic shoes or sneakers.
tenis(noun)
sneakers
?athletic or casual shoes (Mexico/Central America)
tennis shoes
?athletic footwear
,trainers
?UK English
📝 In Action
Necesito unos tenis cómodos para caminar todo el día.
A2I need comfortable sneakers to walk all day.
¿Viste mis tenis blancos? No los encuentro.
A1Did you see my white tennis shoes? I can't find them.
💡 Grammar Points
Plural Usage
Even though you are talking about a single pair, you must use the plural form 'los tenis' and plural adjectives ('tenis nuevos', 'tenis sucios').
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using Singular
Mistake: "Compré un tenis."
Correction: Compré unos tenis. (Always use the plural article 'unos' or 'los' when referring to a pair of shoes.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Regional Check
Be aware that this meaning is understood everywhere, but in Spain and parts of South America, 'zapatillas' is the more common everyday word for sneakers.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: tenis
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'tenis' to mean footwear?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'tenis' singular or plural?
It depends on the meaning! When referring to the sport, it is singular and masculine ('el tenis'). When referring to a pair of shoes, it is always treated as a plural masculine noun ('los tenis').
Why is 'tenis' masculine if it ends in 's'?
'Tenis' is an imported word (a foreign loanword). It is treated as masculine because the word for 'sport' ('deporte') is masculine, and the word for 'shoe' ('zapato') is masculine.