ve a jugar
/be a xuɡaɾ/from spelling rules
The Spanish phrase for "go play" is ve a jugar.
This phrase is used as a command to tell someone to leave their current area to engage in a game or a recreational activity.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, the phrase means "go to play", where a acts as the preposition "to" to connect the movement of going to the action of playing.
How does it change in a sentence?
The choice of form depends on whom you are addressing: use ve a jugar for one person informally, vaya a jugar for one person formally and vayan a jugar if you are telling more than one person to go play.
How do you pronounce it?
/be a xuɡaɾ/
Did you know?
- Depending on the region, saying ve a jugar to an adult can be interpreted as a dismissive insult, similar to telling someone to 'go fly a kite'.
- While jugar is used for games and sports, Spanish uses a completely different verb, tocar, when telling someone to 'play' a musical instrument.
- The word jugar comes from the Latin word iocus, which meant a 'joke' or 'jest'.
Examples in context
- ¡Ve a jugar beisbol!Go play baseball!This sentence is useful for seeing how to use ve a jugar with a specific sport.Tatoeba #6990142 by cueyayotl, translation #1747325 by belgavox
- Ve a jugar fuera.Go play outside.
- Ve a jugar con tus amigos.Go play with your friends.
Example conversation
Mateo is busy working and Elena wants his attention.
- ElenaMateo, ¿podemos jugar ahora?Mateo, can we play now?
- MateoEstoy ocupado, ve a jugar afuera.I am busy, go play outside.
- ElenaPero no quiero estar sola.But I don't want to be alone.
- MateoBusca a tu hermano y ve a jugar.Find your brother and go play.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries a, jugar, ve, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
