This page lists common Spanish verbs and expressions used to describe actions in various sports. Each section includes grammar notes on verb conjugation (usually in the present tense), as well as example sentences in both Spanish and English.
General Sporting Actions
These are broad verbs that can be used across many different sports to describe basic actions.
Gramática
Most of these verbs are regular but note that jugar is irregular (stem changes to jueg- in the present tense). Use a + [sport] with jugar, e.g., jugar al fútbol (to play soccer).
Examples
- Juego al tenis los sábados.* (I play tennis on Saturdays.)
- Corren todos los días en el parque.* (They run every day in the park.)
- Caliento antes de entrenar.* (I warm up before training.)
Table
| Spanish Singular | Spanish Plural | English Singular | English Plural | Singular Example | Plural Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| jugar (juego) | jugar (jugamos) | to play | to play | Juego al baloncesto. | Jugamos al baloncesto. |
| correr (corro) | correr (corren) | to run | to run | Corro cinco kilómetros. | Corren en el parque. |
| saltar (salto) | saltar (saltan) | to jump | to jump | Salto la cuerda. | Saltan en el gimnasio. |
| lanzar (lanzo) | lanzar (lanzan) | to throw | to throw | Lanzo la pelota. | Lanzan lejos. |
| atrapar (atrapo) | atrapar (atrapan) | to catch | to catch | Atrapo la pelota. | Atrapan en el juego. |
| golpear (golpeo) | golpear (golpean) | to hit | to hit | Golpeo la pelota. | Golpean con fuerza. |
| patear (pateo) | patear (patean) | to kick | to kick | Pateo el balón. | Patean al arco. |
| ganar (gano) | ganar (ganan) | to win | to win | Gano el partido. | Ganan el campeonato. |
| perder (pierdo) | perder (pierden) | to lose | to lose | Pierdo el juego. | Pierden siempre. |
| entrenar (entreno) | entrenar (entrenan) | to train | to train | Entreno todas las tardes. | Entrenan juntos. |
| calentar (caliento) | calentar (calientan) | to warm up | to warm up | Caliento antes del partido. | Calientan en grupo. |
Ball Sports
These verbs are commonly used in sports that involve balls, such as soccer, basketball, and volleyball.
Gramática
Most verbs are regular. Note that pasar (to pass) and botar (to bounce/dribble) are straightforward follow regular conjugation patterns. Use a + [person] when indicating to whom the action is directed (e.g., pasar a Juan).
Examples
- Paso el balón a mi compañero.* (I pass the ball to my teammate.)
- Boto el balón en el suelo.* (I dribble the ball on the floor.)
- Sirvo en el voleibol.* (I serve in volleyball.)
Table
| Spanish Singular | Spanish Plural | English Singular | English Plural | Singular Example | Plural Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| pasar (paso) | pasar (pasan) | to pass | to pass | Paso el balón a Ana. | Pasan rápido. |
| botar (boto) | botar (botan) | to bounce/dribble | to bounce/dribble | Boto el balón en el suelo. | Botan en el partido. |
| servir (sirvo) | servir (sirven) | to serve | to serve | Sirvo en el tenis. | Sirven bien. |
| bloquear (bloqueo) | bloquear (bloquean) | to block | to block | Bloqueo el tiro. | Bloquean en defensa. |
| driblar (driblo) | driblar (driblan) | to dribble | to dribble | Driblo al jugador. | Driblan rápido. |
| cabecear (cabeceo) | cabecear (cabecean) | to head (soccer) | to head | Cabeceo el balón. | Cabecean en el juego. |
| lanzar (lanzo) | lanzar (lanzan) | to throw/launch | to throw/launch | Lanzo al aro. | Lanzan al objetivo. |
| recibir (recibo) | recibir (reciben) | to receive | to receive | Recibo el pase. | Reciben la pelota. |
| bloquear (bloqueo) | bloquear (bloquean) | to block | to block | Bloqueo el tiro. | Bloquean al rival. |
| rematar (remato) | rematar (rematan) | to strike/finish | to strike/finish | Remato de cabeza. | Rematan al arco. |
Water Sports
Actions commonly used in swimming, surfing, and other water-related sports.
Gramática
Most verbs are regular, but nadar (to swim) often uses reflexive pronouns to indicate intention, though it’s not necessary (e.g., Me voy a nadar). bucear means "to scuba dive" or "to snorkel."
Examples
- Nado todos los días.* (I swim every day.)
- Surfeo en la playa.* (I surf at the beach.)
- Buceamos en el arrecife.* (We scuba dive in the reef.)
Table
| Spanish Singular | Spanish Plural | English Singular | English Plural | Singular Example | Plural Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| nadar (nado) | nadar (nadan) | to swim | to swim | Nado en la piscina. | Nadan temprano. |
| surfear (surfeo) | surfear (surfean) | to surf | to surf | Surféo las olas grandes. | Surfean juntos. |
| bucear (buceo) | bucear (bucean) | to scuba dive/snorkel | to scuba dive/snorkel | Buceo en el mar. | Bucean en grupo. |
| remar (remo) | remar (reman) | to row | to row | Remo en el lago. | Reman con fuerza. |
| flotar (floto) | flotar (flotan) | to float | to float | Floto en la superficie. | Flotan tranquilos. |
| zambullirse (me zambullo) | zambullirse (se zambullen) | to dive | to dive | Me zambullo en el agua. | Se zambullen rápido. |
| esquiar (esquío) | esquiar (esquían) | to ski (water) | to ski (water) | Esquío en el lago. | Esquían juntos. |
| deslizarse (me deslizo) | deslizarse (se deslizan) | to glide/slip | to glide/slip | Me deslizo en la tabla. | Se deslizan sobre el agua. |
| impulsarse (me impulso) | impulsarse (se impulsan) | to push off | to push off | Me impulso desde la orilla. | Se impulsan rápido. |
| capear (capeo) | capear (capean) | to steer/handle waves | to steer/handle waves | Capeo la tabla en las olas. | Capean juntos. |
Gym & Fitness
Common actions performed in the gym or during workouts.
Gramática
Most verbs are regular. Note that hacer (to do/make) is irregular (hago, haces,...). Use pesas for weights and ejercicios for exercises.
Examples
- Hago pesas tres veces por semana.* (I lift weights three times a week.)
- Estiro antes de entrenar.* (I stretch before training.)
- Repito diez veces cada ejercicio.* (I repeat each exercise ten times.)
Table
| Spanish Singular | Spanish Plural | English Singular | English Plural | Singular Example | Plural Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| hacer (hago) | hacer (hacemos) | to do/make | to do/make | Hago ejercicio diario. | Hacemos yoga juntos. |
| levantar (levanto) | levantar (levantan) | to lift | to lift | Levanto pesas. | Levantan mucho peso. |
| estirar (estiro) | estirar (estiran) | to stretch | to stretch | Estiro las piernas. | Estiran antes del ejercicio. |
| flexionar (flexiono) | flexionar (flexionan) | to bend/flex | to bend/flex | Flexiono los brazos. | Flexionan las rodillas. |
| repetir (repito) | repetir (repiten) | to repeat | to repeat | Repito diez repeticiones. | Repiten el ejercicio. |
| descansar (descanso) | descansar (descansan) | to rest | to rest | Descanso dos minutos. | Descansan después. |
| sudar (sudo) | sudar (sudan) | to sweat | to sweat | Sudo mucho en la clase. | Sudan en grupo. |
| controlar (controlo) | controlar (controlan) | to control | to control | Controlo mi respiración. | Controlan el ritmo. |
| levantar pesas (levanto) | levantar pesas (levantan) | to lift weights | to lift weights | Levanto pesas ligeras. | Levantan pesas juntas. |
| entrenar (entreno) | entrenar (entrenan) | to train | to train | Entreno en el gimnasio. | Entrenan duro. |
Track and Field
Actions specific to athletics and track events.
Gramática
Most verbs are regular. Correr and saltar are among the most common. Use a + [distance] or por + [time] for running events (e.g., correr 100 metros, correr por 10 minutos).
Examples
- Corro 100 metros planos.* (I run 100 meters flat.)
- Salto más de dos metros.* (I jump more than two meters.)
- Lanzan la jabalina lejos.* (They throw the javelin far.)
Table
| Spanish Singular | Spanish Plural | English Singular | English Plural | Singular Example | Plural Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| correr (corro) | correr (corren) | to run | to run | Corro 5 kilómetros. | Corren en la pista. |
| saltar (salto) | saltar (saltan) | to jump | to jump | Salto alto. | Saltan largo. |
| lanzar (lanzo) | lanzar (lanzan) | to throw | to throw | Lanzo la jabalina. | Lanzan lejos. |
| acelerar (acelero) | acelerar (aceleran) | to accelerate | to accelerate | Acelero al final. | Aceleran rápido. |
| competir (compito) | competir (compiten) | to compete | to compete | Compito en atletismo. | Compiten juntos. |
| entrenar (entreno) | entrenar (entrenan) | to train | to train | Entreno velocidad. | Entrenan fuerza. |
| calentar (caliento) | calentar (calientan) | to warm up | to warm up | Caliento antes de correr. | Calientan en grupo. |
| respirar (respiro) | respirar (respiran) | to breathe | to breathe | Respiro profundo. | Respiran ritmicamente. |
| superar (supero) | superar (superan) | to surpass | to surpass | Supero mi récord. | Superan expectativas. |
| descansar (descanso) | descansar (descansan) | to rest | to rest | Descanso un minuto. | Descansan entre series. |
Conclusion
By learning these action verbs, you will be able to describe a wide range of sports and physical activities in Spanish. Remember to pay attention to context and use the correct prepositions (e.g., a, en, con) to make your sentences more natural.
Why are prepositions important when using sports verbs in Spanish?
They make sentences more natural and clarify relationships (e.g., a, en, con, del).
Using the correct prepositions (a, en, con, del, etc.) in Spanish sports verbs is crucial for natural and clear sentences. They indicate direction, location, accompaniment, origin, and more.
Flashcards (1 of 51)
- Singular Example: Juego al baloncesto.
- Plural Example: Jugamos al baloncesto.
- English Singular: to play
- English Plural: to play
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
