pichanga
/pit͡ʃanɡa/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'pickup game' can be translated into Spanish as pichanga.
A pickup game refers to an informal match of a sport played by people who gather spontaneously rather than as part of an organized league. The term pichanga is most commonly used to describe these spontaneous, unorganized matches in football (soccer).
Which one should you use?
While pichanga is a specific term for a spontaneous match, you can also use partidillo to describe an informal game or partido entre amigos to specifically mean a 'game among friends'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The term pichanga is used specifically in Chile, Peru and Bolivia to refer to a pickup game.
How do you pronounce it?
/pitʃanɡa/
Did you know?
- In Chile, if you describe a professional football match as a pichanga, you are actually insulting the quality of the play. In this context, the word shifts from meaning 'informal' to meaning 'bad' or 'low quality'.
- The term pichanga is believed to have originated from the Quechua language, the ancient tongue of the Inca Empire.
- If you use pichanga in Spain, people might not understand your meaning at all, as the term is geographically concentrated in the Andean regions of South America.
Examples in context
- ¿Quieres jugar un partido de fútbol improvisado?Do you want to play an improvised soccer game?
- Vamos a hacer un partidillo de baloncesto.Let's have a pickup basketball game.
- ¿Quieres echar un partido este fin de semana?Do you want to play a game this weekend?
- Vamos a jugar una pachanga, ¿te apuntas?Let's play a pickup game, are you in?
- ¿Alguien quiere participar en un partido improvisado de tenis?Does anyone want to join an improvised tennis pickup game?
- Vamos a hacer un partidillo de fútbol entre amigos.Let's have an informal soccer pickup game among friends.
- Vamos a jugar una pichanga en el parque.Let's play a pickup game in the park.
- ¿Quieres armar una pichanga de fútbol hoy?Do you want to organize a pickup soccer game today?
- La pichanga de anoche estuvo muy buena.Last night's pickup game was really good.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about sports at a park.
- MaríaHola Javier, ¿estáis listo para la pichanga?Hi Javier, are you ready for the pickup game?
- Javier¡Sí, María! Ya tengo mi pelota.Yes, Maria! I already have my ball.
- María¿Faltan más jugadores para el equipo?Are there more players missing for the team?
- JavierCreo que ya somos suficientes.I think we are enough now.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries pichanga, CC BY-SA 4.0.
