animar
/aniˈmaɾ/
To cheer the sport in Spanish is animar.
In a sporting context, it means to shout words of encouragement or praise to support an athlete or a team. Note that depending on the context, animar can also mean to animate or to bring something to life.
How does it change in a sentence?
When you are cheering for a specific person or a team, the verb animar requires the preposition a, forming the construction animar a. For example, animar a un equipo is the standard way to say 'to cheer for a team'.
How do you pronounce it?
/aniˈmaɾ/
Did you know?
- The word animar shares the same root as the English word 'animal', as both come from the Latin anima meaning 'breath' or 'soul'.
- In Latin America, you might hear the phrase ponerse la camiseta, meaning 'to put on the shirt', used alongside animar to describe total loyalty to a team.
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, a person who is constantly 'animando' a team might be called an animador, a word that also refers to a professional host or circus ringmaster.
Examples in context
- Voy al estadio para animar al equipo.I am going to the stadium to cheer for the team.
- Es importante animar a los deportistas.It is important to cheer for the athletes.
Example conversation
A couple is watching a soccer match at a sports bar.
- Daniel¡Vamos! ¡Hay que animar al equipo con ganas!Let's go! We have to cheer for the team with enthusiasm!
- ElenaTienes razón, Daniel. ¡Vamos, equipo!You are right, Daniel. Go, team!
- DanielMe encanta animar cuando el partido es emocionante.I love cheering when the game is exciting.
- ElenaYo también, pero me canso de tanto gritar.Me too, but I get tired from shouting so much.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry animar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries animar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
