¿podemos jugar?
The phrase "can we play?" in Spanish is translated as ¿podemos jugar?
¿podemos jugar? is a request used to ask for permission to engage in a game or a recreational activity.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the verb poder (to be able to/can) in the first-person plural form podemos (we can), and the infinitive jugar (to play).
Which one should you use?
¿Nos echamos una partida? is a colloquial way to invite someone to play a game.
Is it said differently in some regions?
¿Nos echamos una partida? is a colloquial expression popular in Spain and some Latin American countries.
Did you know?
- While jugar is used for games and sports, Spanish uses a different verb, tocar, when asking to play a musical instrument.
- While jugar is used for games, the word juego is also used to describe the 'set' of a matching pair of items, such as a suit of clothes or a set of tools.
- While you might ask ¿podemos jugar? to join a game, the word jugar shares a distant ancestor with the English word 'joke'.
Examples in context
- Si terminas la tarea, ¿podemos jugar?If you finish your homework, can we play?
Example conversation
Two children are asking their parent for permission.
- DanielPapá, ¿podemos jugar?Dad, can we play?
- SofíaPrimero terminen la tarea.First finish your homework.
- DanielYa terminamos, ¿podemos jugar?We already finished, can we play?
- SofíaSí, Daniel y Sofía, pueden jugar.Yes, Daniel and Sofía, you can play.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries jugar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
