tenis
/ˈtenis/masculine
The Spanish word for tennis is tenis.
tenis is a masculine noun referring to the sport played by two or four players with strung racquets. If you wish to refer to a tennis player, you use the word tenista, which can be used for both masculine and feminine subjects.
Meaning: sport played by two or four players with strung racquets (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
When discussing the sport in a general sense or as the subject of a sentence, the definite article el is typically used, such as in el tenis. Additionally, in many Spanish-speaking regions, the verb jugar (to play) is followed by the prepositional phrase al (a + el) when referring to playing tennis.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈtenis/
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, tenis is used as a common word for sneakers or athletic shoes, not just the sport.
- The word tenista is an example of a common gender noun in Spanish, where the ending -ista remains the same for both men and women.
- The Spanish word tenis was borrowed directly from English, reflecting the global spread of the sport's terminology.
Examples in context
- Sé jugar al tenis.I can play tennis.This sentence is useful for expressing the ability to play tenis.Tatoeba #491070 by Shishir, translation #255078 by CK
- Me gusta el tenis.I like tennis.This sentence is useful for expressing a preference for tenis.Tatoeba #523729 by Shishir, translation #255080 by CK
- Voy a jugar tenis.I am going to play tennis.This sentence is useful for expressing an intention to play tenis.Tatoeba #578582 by Leono, translation #255099 by CK
- 342 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing their weekend plans.
- Elena¿Quieres jugar al tenis este sábado?Do you want to play tennis this Saturday?
- MateoSí, me encanta el tenis.Yes, I love tennis.
- ElenaPerfecto, reservaré la pista para nosotros.Perfect, I will reserve the court for us.
- MateoMuy bien, nos vemos en la cancha.Very well, see you at the court.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “tennis” translations and entries tenis, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries tenis, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
