jugar al billar
/xuɡaɾ al biʝaɾ/from spelling rules
In Spanish, shooting pool is expressed as jugar al billar.
The phrase is used to describe the act of playing the game of pool or billiards. While el billar is the general term for the sport, it is used to refer to both billiards and pool in Spanish. Related terminology includes el taco for the cue stick and golpe de efecto for an English shot (applying spin to the cue ball).
Which one should you use?
The term el billar covers both billiards and pool. When describing the action of playing, you can use jugar al billar or the more informal expression echar una partida de billar, which means to have a game of billiards.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In many Latin American dialects, the preposition al is often omitted, resulting in the form jugar billar.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express playing a specific game, the phrase uses the construction jugar al followed by the name of the game.
How do you pronounce it?
/xuɡaɾ al biʝaɾ/
Did you know?
- The term el taco for a pool cue is the same word used for the popular corn tortilla.
- The verb jugar is a distant cousin of the English word 'joke'. Both words share a common ancestor that relates to the idea of play or jesting.
- In Spanish, the word billar refers to the sport, the game and the table itself.
Examples in context
- Me agrada jugar al billar en mi tiempo libreI enjoy playing billiards in my free time
- Los profesionales dedican muchas horas a practicar billarProfessionals dedicate many hours to practicing billiards
- Organicé un torneo para jugar al pool con mis amigosI organized a tournament to play pool with my friends
- Vamos a echar una partida de billar esta tardeLet's have a game of billiards this afternoon
- Me gusta jugar al billar con mis amigos.I like playing pool with my friends.
- ¿Quieres jugar al billar esta noche?Do you want to play pool tonight?
- Ellos prefieren jugar al billar en el bar.They prefer playing pool at the bar.
Example conversation
Two friends are deciding what to do at a sports club.
- ElenaDaniel, ¿vamos a jugar al billar?Daniel, shall we play pool?
- DanielSí, me encantaría jugar al billar ahora.Yes, I would love to play pool now.
- ElenaPerfecto, yo traigo los tacos.Perfect, I will bring the cues.
- DanielMuy bien, vamos a la mesa.Very well, let's go to the table.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries billar, jugar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
