Meaning and Usage
The verb jugar means "to play," specifically referring to playing games or sports. It is commonly used when talking about actions like playing cards, video games, soccer, or other recreational activities. This verb is an irregular verb in Spanish and has unique conjugations, especially in some present tense forms.
Verb Type and Irregularities
Jugar is a stem-changing verb, where the "u" in the stem changes to "ue" in most present tense forms (except nosotros and vosotros). It is classified as a -ar verb but has this irregular stem change. The verb follows the pattern of many stem-changing verbs but remains regular in some tenses such as the preterite.
Present Tense Conjugation of Jugar
| Spanish Pronoun | Spanish Conjugation | English Conjugation | Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| yo | juego | I play | Yo juego al fútbol. | I play soccer. |
| tú | juegas | you play (informal) | ¿Tú juegas videojuegos? | Do you play video games? |
| él/ella/usted | juega | he/she/you (formal) plays | Ella juega con sus amigos. | She plays with her friends. |
| nosotros/as | jugamos | we play | Nosotros jugamos cartas. | We play cards. |
| vosotros/as | jugáis | you all play | Vosotros jugáis al tenis. | You all play tennis. |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | juegan | they/you all play | Ellos juegan baloncesto. | They play basketball. |
Use in Other Tenses
In the preterite tense, jugar is regular except for a slight spelling change in the first person singular to maintain the correct sound:
- yo jugué (I played)
- tú jugaste (you played)
- él/ella/usted jugó (he/she/you played)
- nosotros/as jugamos (we played)
- vosotros/as jugasteis (you all played)
- ellos/ellas/ustedes jugaron (they/you all played)
The verb behaves regularly in imperfect, future, and conditional tenses but always with the base stem jug-.
Common Expressions with Jugar
- jugar a + sport/game – to play a frequently played sport or game (e.g., jugar al fútbol, jugar al ajedrez)
- jugar con – to play with (someone or something)
These expressions are essential to know to talk naturally about playing games or activities.
For further details on related verbs and grammar rules, check the pages Spanish, Grammar, and Irregular Verbs.
