How to Say "championship" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “championship” is “campeonato” — use 'campeonato' when referring to the entire competition or league title itself that determines the ultimate winner.
Use 'campeonato' when referring to the entire competition or league title itself that determines the ultimate winner.
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Use 'torneo' for a specific, often shorter, competition or series of matches, like a knockout event or a local contest.
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Use 'copa' when referring to the trophy itself or a major, often international, cup competition like the World Cup.
Learn more →kahm-peh-oh-NAH-tohkam.pe.oˈna.to
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.
tor-NEH-otoɾˈneo
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.)
KOH-pahˈko.pa
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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