Teaching specialized vocabulary in Spanish is a good way to add variety to the lesson plan. This article provides a specialized Spanish vocabulary word list of sports and related terms (events, participants, venues, and sports equipment), along with a downloadable matching quiz.
List 1 - The Wide World of Sports
athletics - el atletismo
badminton - el badminton
Advertisementbaseball - el béisbol
basketball - el baloncesto
Advertisementcanoeing - el piragüismo
cricket - el cricket
Advertisementcycling - el ciclismo
football (American) - el fútbol americano
Advertisementgolf - el golf
handball - el balonmano
Advertisementhockey - el hockey
ice skating - el patinaje sobre hielo
Advertisementmountain climbing - el alpinismo
pole vaulting - el salto con pértiga
Advertisementrace - la carrera
rugby el rugby
Advertisementsailing - la vela
skating - el patinaje
Advertisementskiing - el esquí
soccer - el fútbol
Advertisementsport - el deporte
swimming - la natación
Advertisementtable tennis - el ping pong
tennis - el tenis
Advertisementvolleyball - el voleibol
water skiing - el esquí acuatico
Advertisementwindsurfing - el windsurf
winter sports - los deportes de invierno
List 2 - Sporting Events and Locations
- bullring - la plaza de toros
- championship - el campeonato
- club - el club
- competition - la competencia
- draw (tie game) - el empate
- golf course - el campo de golf
- match (game) - el partido
- Olympic games - la olimpíada
- result - el resultado
- skating rink - el patinadero
- sports center - el polideportivo
- sports ground - el campo de deportes
- stadium - el estadio
- swimming pool - la piscina
- to play (baseball, golf, tennis, etc.) - jugar al (beísbol, golf, tenis, etc.)
- track - la pista
List 3 - People and Equipment
- baseball bat - el bate de béisbol
- baseball glove - el guante de béisbol
- bat boy - el mascota
- bullfighter- el torero
- catcher - el catcher
- center (left/right) fielder - el jardinero (central/izquierdo/derecho)
- champion - el campeón
- fielder - el jugador que intercepta la pelota
- goal - el gol
- golf ball - la pelota de golf
- golf club - el palo de golf
- large ball - el balón
- pitcher - el lanzador
- referee (umpire) - el árbitro
- small ball - la pelota
- spectator - el espectador
- sports fan (sportsman/sportswoman) - el/la deportista
- supporter (fan) - el /la hincha
- team - el equipo
- tennis racket - la raqueta de tenis
- trophy - el trofeo
Suggested Classroom Activities
This list can be used in the exercises suggested in the Bright Hub articles on Spanish medical vocabulary building (Parts 1 and 2). Specifically:
♦ Dividing the class into three groups, having the students circulate and confer with other students, and completing the worksheet. (See the suggested classroom activities in Part 1 for additional information and materials.)
♦ Pairing off the students, assigning an appropriate number of terms from list 1, and asking the students to compose sentences using terms from each list. (See the suggested classroom activities in Part 2 for additional information and examples.)
Consider adding a vocabulary matching quiz (based on these terms) to a regularly scheduled quiz. (See the suggested matching quiz below.)
Downloadable Vocabulary Sheet and Quiz
A downloadable version of the Spanish Sports vocabulary in this article is available at Spanish Sports Vocabulary .
A downloadable version of the matching quiz is also available at Spanish Sports Vocabulary quiz .
