me gusta jugar al voleibol
/me ɡusta xuɡaɾ al boleibol/from spelling rules
The phrase "I like to play volleyball" in Spanish is expressed as me gusta jugar al voleibol.
This phrase is used to express a personal preference for the activity of playing volleyball.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase me gusta literally translates to "it pleases me" rather than "I like".
Is it said differently in some regions?
The spelling of the sport can vary. me gusta jugar al vóleibol is a version where the first "o" in "voleibol" carries an accent to indicate regional stress preferences.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the sentence me gusta jugar al voleibol, the infinitive verb jugar (to play) serves as the subject that "pleases" you.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid saying yo gusto jugar al voleibol. This is a common error where English speakers translate "I like" directly. Instead, always use the form me gusta.
Did you know?
- The verb jugar shares a surprising family tree with the English word 'joke'. Both words trace back to the Latin 'iocus', meaning a joke or jest.
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, particularly in Latin America, people often use the English word 'volleyball' in conversation instead of voleibol.
- The verb jugar is the only verb in the entire Spanish language that changes its stem from 'u' to 'ue' in certain conjugations, such as 'yo juego'.
Examples in context
- Disfruto jugar al vóley en el equipo de la universidad.I enjoy playing volleyball on the university team.
- Me gusta jugar al voleibol los sábados.I like to play volleyball on Saturdays.
- A veces, me gusta jugar al voleibol en la playa.Sometimes, I like to play volleyball at the beach.
- Aunque hace calor, me gusta jugar al voleibol.Even though it is hot, I like to play volleyball.
Example conversation
Daniel and Elena are talking about their weekend hobbies.
- Daniel¿Qué haces en tu tiempo libre, Elena?What do you do in your free time, Elena?
- ElenaMe gusta jugar al voleibol con mis amigas.I like to play volleyball with my friends.
- Daniel¡Qué bien! A mí también me gusta jugar al voleibol.That's great! I also like to play volleyball.
- ElenaEntonces, ¿quieres jugar un partido conmigo?Then, do you want to play a match with me?
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries jugar, me, voleibol, CC BY-SA 4.0.
