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How to Say "played" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “played” is “jugó” — use 'jugó' for a specific, completed past action of playing a game, sport, or other activity, usually referring to a single instance or a completed period..

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jugó

verbA1general
Use 'jugó' for a specific, completed past action of playing a game, sport, or other activity, usually referring to a single instance or a completed period.

Examples

Él jugó al tenis toda la tarde.

He played tennis all afternoon.

jugado

hoo-GAH-doh/xuˈɣaðo/

past participle/adjectiveA1/B1general
Use 'jugado' as part of compound tenses (e.g., 'ha jugado') to describe an action that has happened, or as an adjective to describe something that has been played or performed.
A soccer ball sitting still on a bright green field next to a portion of a white goalpost, indicating the game has been completed.

Examples

Hemos jugado a las cartas toda la tarde.

We have played cards all afternoon.

Ella ya había jugado ese videojuego antes.

She had already played that video game before.

El partido jugado ayer fue el mejor de la temporada.

The game played yesterday was the best of the season.

No te preocupes por él, es un hombre muy jugado y sabe lo que hace.

Don't worry about him, he's a very experienced/street-smart man and knows what he's doing.

Forming Perfect Tenses

This word is the building block for actions completed in the past. You must always use a form of the verb 'haber' (to have) right before 'jugado' to make sense: 'yo he jugado', 'tú has jugado', etc.

Adjective Agreement

When 'jugado' acts as an adjective, it must change its ending to match the noun it describes: 'el partido jugado' (masculine singular), 'las cartas jugadas' (feminine plural).

Using 'Ser' or 'Estar'

Mistake: “Los niños son jugado.”

Correction: The participle 'jugado' is almost always used with 'haber' to form tenses, never 'ser' or 'estar' in this context. Correction: 'Los niños han jugado'.

Mixing Adjective and Participle

Mistake: “La mesa está jugado.”

Correction: If you are using it as an adjective with 'estar' or 'ser', it must agree in gender and number. Correction: 'La mesa está jugada' (feminine singular).

tocado

toh-KAH-doh/toˈkaðo/

verb formA1general
Use 'tocado' when referring to the action of playing a musical instrument or, in some contexts, 'ringing' a bell.
A close-up view of a human index finger gently making contact with the smooth, polished surface of a round, blue stone.

Examples

Nunca he tocado esa campana.

I have never rung that bell.

Ella había tocado el piano desde niña.

She had played the piano since she was a child.

Forming Perfect Tenses

This form ('tocado') is always used with the verb 'haber' (to have) to create perfect tenses, such as the present perfect ('he tocado', I have touched).

Using 'Estar' instead of 'Haber'

Mistake: “Yo estoy tocado el violín.”

Correction: Yo he tocado el violín. Remember, 'tocado' needs 'haber' for completed actions, not 'estar'.

toqué

verbA1general
Use 'toqué' for a specific, completed past action of playing a musical instrument, indicating 'I played' it at a certain time.

Examples

Toqué la batería en una banda de rock hace diez años.

I played the drums in a rock band ten years ago.

Distinguishing 'jugó' from 'jugado'

The most common confusion is between 'jugó' and 'jugado'. Remember that 'jugó' is a simple past tense verb (he/she/it played), while 'jugado' is a past participle, used with 'haber' to form perfect tenses (has played) or as an adjective (the played game).

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