futbolín
/futbolin/from spelling rules
The English phrase "table football" is futbolín in Spanish.
futbolín is a go-to term for table football in informal settings.
What does it mean word for word?
The word is a diminutive of fútbol (football) combined with the diminutive suffix -ín, meaning "little football".
How does it change in a sentence?
When using the verb jugar (to play) with futbolín, you must use the contraction al (a + el) because the game is treated as a masculine singular noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/futbolin/
Did you know?
- The name futbolín actually traces back to a specific commercial brand that became so dominant it replaced the generic name for the game in Spain.
- In Spain, there are official leagues and federations for futbolín with strict rules that mirror the professional laws of the game played on grass.
- In many parts of Latin America, you will not hear futbolín, but will instead hear futbolito or simply futbol de mesa.
Examples in context
- ¿Dónde se puede jugar al futbolín?Where can you play table football?Tatoeba #1332308 by Shishir, translation #1332316 by marcelostockle
- ¡Vamos a jugar al futbolín después del trabajo!Let's play table football after work!
- ¡Nos vemos en el metegol!See you at the table football game!
- El futbolín está en el salón de juegos.The table football is in the game room.
- Vamos a jugar una partida de futbolín.Let's play a game of table football.
Example conversation
Mateo and María are at a local cafe.
- MateoMaría, ¿quieres jugar al futbolín?María, do you want to play table football?
- MaríaSí, me encanta el futbolín.Yes, I love table football.
- Mateo¡Genial! Yo empiezo primero.Great! I'll go first.
- María¡Prepárate, Mateo, porque voy a ganar!Get ready, Mateo, because I am going to win!
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries futbolín, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
