Spanish Soccer Terms: Score with Your Language Skills!⚽Audio + Quiz (2024)

Hola, fellow language learners and soccer enthusiasts! 😃

Let’s embark on a journey of jargon today, right into the heart of the fútbol field, or as you may know it, the soccer field. This is your one-stop guide to Spanish Soccer Vocabulary – a perfect way to fuse your passion for language learning and the exhilarating world of soccer, we are going to focus on popular Spanish soccer terms! Now, let’s dive right in! ⚽💬

Essential Terms

• Soccer – Fútbol: As much as the world loves the term ‘soccer’, the Spanish-speaking world loves fútbol. In the international arena, you’ll hear this term more than its American counterpart.
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• Goal – Gol: When the ball finds the back of the net, it’s a gol! Much like in English, you can stretch it out for a particularly thrilling goal: Goooool!
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• Goalkeeper – Portero/Arquero/Guardameta: Depending on the region, the person guarding the net could be called any of these terms. As with other {Spanish Learning Terms}, it’s crucial to adapt to regional variants.
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    See Also

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• Referee – Árbitro: The person making the calls on the field.
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• Penalty Kick – Penal/Penalti: This is awarded for offenses committed in the penalty area. 🟨🟥
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• Offside – Fuera de juego: A player is offside if they are nearer to the opponent’s goal line than both the ball and the second last opponent when the ball is played to them.
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• Corner Kick – Saque de esquina: This occurs when the ball has wholly crossed the goal line after touching a defender last. The attacking team gets to kick the ball from the corner of the field.
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• Throw-in – Saque de banda: This occurs when the ball has wholly crossed the sidelines, or ‘touchlines’, and must be thrown back onto the field by the team who did not touch it last.
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• Free Kick – Tiro libre: Awarded after an infringement of the rules, a free kick is taken from the spot of the offense (or in some cases, such as offside, from the place where the offending player was when the infringement occurred).
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Positions – Spanish soccer terms

Here are a few position terms to help you talk like a true soccer fan in Spanish:

• Forward – Delantero: These are the players usually in charge of scoring goals.
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• Midfielder – Mediocampista: The players in the middle of the action.
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• Defender – Defensa: They protect their side of the field and try to prevent goals.
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• Winger – Extremo: These are players who operate from the wings during a game. They can be part of the forward or the midfield line.
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• Sweeper – Líbero: A defensive player positioned behind the rest of the defenders.
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• Goalie – Portero/Arquero/Guardameta: The player who protects the goal.
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Phrases for Timing

Spanish soccer terms aren’t just about players and positions. Here’s how you can talk about time:

• First/Second Half – Primer tiempo/Segundo tiempo: Games are divided into two halves or tiempos.
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• Extra Time – Tiempo extra: If the game is tied, it may go into tiempo extra
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• Injury time – Tiempo de descuento: This is the time added on at the end of each half to compensate for stoppages in the game.
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• Half Time – Medio tiempo: This is the interval between the two halves of the match..
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Expressions

Now that we’ve covered some basics, here are a few expressions to help you sound like a native while discussing fútbol:

• ‘Qué golazo!’: An expression used to compliment an extraordinary goal. It translates to “What a great goal!”
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• ‘Eso es una tarjeta roja!’: Literally, “That’s a red card!” Use this when a player makes a severe foul that deserves immediate expulsion.
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• ‘¡Eso fue un penalti!’: Literally, “That was a penalty!” Use this when a player commits a foul within their own penalty area.
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• ‘¡Mano a mano!’: Literally, “Hand to hand!” This phrase is used when a player is going one-on-one against the goalkeeper. It’s an exciting moment in the game!
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Some of what broadcasters say during a soccer match

🚨 Remember to take our fun multiple choice quiz at the very end of the post! 🚨

• Kickoff – “¡Y estamos en marcha!” or “¡Y el árbitro sopla el silbato para comenzar el partido!”( “And we’re underway!” or “And the referee blows the whistle to start the match!”)
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• On the Attack – “¡Están haciendo una carrera por la banda!” or “¡Un brillante pase al hueco, está solo frente al gol!”(“They’re making a run down the wing!” or “A brilliant pass into the space, he’s alone in front of the goal!”)
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• Defensive Moves – “Ha retrocedido bien,” “Gran entrada deslizante para desposeerlo,” or “¡Qué parada del portero!”(He has retreated well,” “Great sliding tackle to dispossess him,” or “What a save from the goalkeeper!”)
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• Goals – “¡Gooool! ¡Qué gran golpe!” or “¡Ha encontrado el fondo de la red!”(“Gooool! What a great strike!” or “He’s found the back of the net!”)
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• Penalty – “El árbitro señala el punto de penal, ¡es un penalti!” or “Decisión controvertida del árbitro, ha dado un penalti.”(“The referee points to the penalty spot, it’s a penalty!” or “Controversial decision by the referee, he’s given a penalty.”)
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• Yellow/Red Card – “Ha sido amonestado, es una tarjeta amarilla,” or “Es una roja directa, ¡está fuera!”(“He’s been cautioned, it’s a yellow card,” or “It’s a straight red, he’s out!”)
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    See Also

    38 Spanish terms for soccer lovers - Lingoda
• Substitutions – “Están haciendo un cambio, esperando cambiar el juego.”( “They’re making a change, hoping to change the game.”)
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• End of the game – “¡Y ahí está el silbato final! Ha sido un encuentro emocionante.”(“And there’s the final whistle! It has been an exciting match.”)
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Keep in mind that these phrases can vary significantly between different commentators and countries.

Remember, the goal here (pun intended 😉) is to immerse yourself in the language and culture. What better way than to engage in the universal language of sports? You’ll Learn Spanish Soccer Terms and gain insight into the sport that brings countless Spanish-speaking communities together.

These terms are just the start. For a deeper dive into Spanish slang, check out our guides on Spanish slang and Spaniard Spanish Slang.

Whether you’re a die-hard soccer fan or a curious language learner, knowing the ins and outs of Soccer Terminology in Spanish will certainly put you ahead in the language learning game. So, next time you tune into a soccer match, try turning the English subtitles off. Better yet, try joining a local Spanish-speaking soccer fan club! Remember, language learning is not a spectator sport.

Keep practicing, keep scoring, and keep the fútbol spirit alive in your language learning journey!

Our Spanish soccer terms quiz!🧠