How to Say "to play" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “to play” is “jugar” — use this verb when talking about playing games, sports, or children playing in a general sense..
jugar
/hoo-gar//xuˈɣaɾ/
Examples
Los niños juegan en el parque todas las tardes.
The children play in the park every afternoon.
¿Quieres jugar al tenis conmigo este fin de semana?
Do you want to play tennis with me this weekend?
Ayer jugamos a las cartas hasta muy tarde.
Yesterday we played cards until very late.
The Magic 'a'
When you talk about playing a specific sport or game, you almost always need to add 'a' after 'jugar'. So it's 'jugar a las cartas' (play cards) or 'jugar al fútbol' (play soccer).
The Shape-Shifting Stem
Notice how the 'u' in 'jugar' changes to 'ue' in some forms, like 'yo juego' (I play). This happens in the present tense for most persons, but not for 'nosotros' (we) or 'vosotros' (you all, informal).
Playing an Instrument
Mistake: “Me gusta jugar la guitarra.”
Correction: Me gusta tocar la guitarra. For instruments, Spanish uses the verb 'tocar', not 'jugar'. 'Jugar' is for games and sports.
Forgetting the 'a'
Mistake: “¿Quieres jugar tenis?”
Correction: ¿Quieres jugar al tenis? While you might hear people drop the 'a' in casual speech, it's a good habit to always include it when talking about a specific game or sport.
tocar
/toh-KAR//toˈkaɾ/
Examples
¿Sabes tocar la guitarra?
Do you know how to play the guitar?
El DJ tocó música increíble en la fiesta.
The DJ played incredible music at the party.
Queremos tocar un concierto en el teatro local.
We want to play a concert at the local theater.
No 'Jugar' for Music
Unlike English, which uses 'play' for both games and instruments, Spanish always uses 'tocar' for music and instruments. Use 'jugar' only for sports or games.
Using 'Jugar' Incorrectly
Mistake: “Juego el piano (I play the piano).”
Correction: Toco el piano (Use 'tocar' for instruments).
poner
/po-ner//poˈneɾ/
Examples
Por favor, pon la televisión.
Please, turn on the television.
¿Puedes poner algo de música?
Can you put on some music?
Puse la calefacción porque hacía frío.
I turned on the heat because it was cold.
interpretar
/een-tehr-preh-TAR//inteɾpɾeˈtaɾ/
Examples
El actor interpreta el papel de un villano muy famoso.
The actor plays the role of a very famous villain.
La orquesta interpretará la Quinta Sinfonía.
The orchestra will perform the Fifth Symphony.
Games vs. Music vs. Roles
Related Translations
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