Inklingo

How to Say "sport" in Spanish

English → Spanish

deporte

/deh-POR-teh//deˈpoɾte/

nounA1general
Use 'deporte' when referring to sports in general, a specific type of physical activity, or a competitive game.
A high quality simple colorful storybook illustration showing a stylized person wearing athletic clothes kicking a classic black and white soccer ball on a bright green field.

Examples

El fútbol es el deporte más popular del mundo.

Soccer is the most popular sport in the world.

Hago deporte en el gimnasio tres veces a la semana.

I do sport (exercise) at the gym three times a week.

Para mantenerte sano, es fundamental practicar algún deporte regularmente.

To stay healthy, it is essential to practice some sport regularly.

Masculine Noun Rule

Even though 'deporte' ends in '-e', it is a masculine word, so you must use the masculine article 'el' (el deporte) and masculine adjectives (deporte favorito).

Using 'Jugar' Incorrectly

Mistake: “Muchos deportes.”

Correction: Hago muchos deportes.

juego

/khweh-go//ˈxweɣo/

nounA1general
Use 'juego' when referring to games, especially in the plural form 'juegos' in the context of organized competitions like the Olympic Games.
Two smiling children sitting across from each other at a small table, focused on playing a colorful board game.

Examples

El fútbol es mi juego favorito.

Soccer is my favorite game.

Compramos un juego de mesa para la fiesta.

We bought a board game for the party.

Los niños están en el parque de juegos.

The children are at the playground (park of games).

General vs. Specific Use

Learners often overuse 'juego' when 'deporte' is the more appropriate term for most sports activities. Remember that 'deporte' is the primary word for 'sport', while 'juego' is broader and often refers to 'game' or specific events like the 'Juegos Olímpicos'.

Related Translations

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