How to Say "basketball" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “basketball” is “baloncesto” — use 'baloncesto' when referring to the sport of basketball itself..
baloncesto
bah-lohn-SEHS-toh/balonˈsesto/
Examples
Mi hermano juega al baloncesto todos los sábados.
My brother plays basketball every Saturday.
El baloncesto es un deporte muy rápido y emocionante.
Basketball is a very fast and exciting sport.
La final de baloncesto fue transmitida en vivo a millones de hogares.
The basketball final was broadcast live to millions of homes.
Always Masculine
Since 'baloncesto' is a masculine word, you must always use the masculine article 'el' before it: 'el baloncesto'.
The 'A' Before the Sport
When talking about playing a sport, Spanish often uses the preposition 'a' (meaning 'to' or 'at'): 'Jugar al baloncesto' (to play the basketball).
Using the Feminine Article
Mistake: “La baloncesto”
Correction: El baloncesto. Remember it ends in '-o', which usually signals a masculine noun.
balón
Examples
El delantero chutó el balón y marcó un gol.
The striker kicked the ball and scored a goal.
Confusing the Sport with the Ball
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