Inklingo

How to Say "championship" in Spanish

English → Spanish

campeonato

kahm-peh-oh-NAH-toh/kam.pe.oˈna.to/

nounB1general
Use 'campeonato' when referring to the entire competition or league title itself that determines the ultimate winner.
A brightly colored illustration showing a tall, ornate gold championship trophy on a dark pedestal.

Examples

El equipo de baloncesto ganó el campeonato nacional.

The basketball team won the national championship.

El campeonato mundial de ajedrez se celebra cada dos años.

The world chess tournament is held every two years.

Participar en este campeonato requiere mucha disciplina.

Participating in this tournament requires a lot of discipline.

Always Masculine

Even though many Spanish words ending in -a are feminine, 'campeonato' ends in -o and is always masculine: 'el campeonato'.

Using the wrong article

Mistake: “La campeonato”

Correction: El campeonato. Remember that the suffix -ato is a strong marker for masculine nouns.

torneo

/tor-NEH-o//toɾˈneo/

nounA2general
Use 'torneo' for a specific, often shorter, competition or series of matches, like a knockout event or a local contest.
A shiny gold trophy sitting prominently on a three-tiered winner's podium on a green sports field, symbolizing the conclusion of a tournament.

Examples

Mi hermano ganó el torneo de ajedrez de la escuela.

My brother won the school's chess tournament.

Todos los equipos se preparan para el torneo de verano.

All the teams are preparing for the summer competition.

El club está organizando un gran torneo eliminatorio este mes.

The club is organizing a big knockout tournament this month.

Masculine Noun Rule

Even though it ends in '-o', 'torneo' is a masculine noun. Always use 'el' or 'un' before it: 'El torneo es mañana.'

Using the wrong preposition

Mistake: “Voy a competir a el torneo.”

Correction: Voy a competir en el torneo. (Use 'en'—meaning 'in' or 'at'—to talk about participating in an event.)

copa

KOH-pah/ˈko.pa/

nounA2general
Use 'copa' when referring to the trophy itself or a major, often international, cup competition like the World Cup.
A large, gleaming gold trophy with two handles sitting on a pedestal, symbolizing victory.

Examples

El equipo de fútbol levantó la copa tras ganar la final.

The soccer team lifted the trophy after winning the final.

Ellos jugarán en la Copa Mundial el próximo año.

They will play in the World Cup next year.

Championship vs. Tournament

Learners often confuse 'campeonato' and 'torneo'. Remember that 'campeonato' refers to the overall title or league, while 'torneo' is typically a specific event or series of matches within a larger competition or on its own.

Related Translations

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