How to Say "To Play" in Spanish

jugar

/xuˈɡaɾ/

To play in Spanish is jugar.

jugar is used to describe engaging in an activity for enjoyment or recreation, such as a game or a sport.

Which one should you use?

While jugar is used for games and sports, you should use tocar when you mean to play a musical instrument.

In some Latin American countries, jugar a la pelota is a common way to say to play ball.

When you are playing a specific game or sport, the verb is often used with the preposition a, forming the structure jugar a.

/xuˈɡaɾ/

Do not use jugar to mean playing a musical instrument. Instead, use tocar.

When referring to a specific game or sport, the verbs echarse or echar can also be used to mean to play.

The verb jugar is the only verb in the entire Spanish language that undergoes a 'u' to 'ue' vowel change, such as in juego, unlike almost all other similar verbs.
While jugar is for recreation, the verb tocar is used for musical instruments, creating a distinction where 'playing' music is literally translated as 'touching' the instrument.
In a gambling context, jugar is the standard word used for betting money, whereas in English 'playing' and 'gambling' are often distinct.

Voy a jugar tenis.
I am going to play tennis.
This sentence shows how to use jugar with a sport.
Tatoeba #578582 by Leono, translation #255099 by CK
No quiero jugar más.
I don't want to play anymore.
This sentence uses jugar to express a lack of desire to continue an activity.
Tatoeba #4969471 by hayastan, translation #4471279 by Hybrid
Es la hora de jugar.
It's time to play.
This sentence uses jugar to indicate the time for an activity.
Tatoeba #5026074 by don_ramon, translation #7822715 by eggershead
Vamos a jugar al fútbol.
Let's play soccer.
Ellos juegan juegos de mesa los domingos.
They play board games on Sundays.
Me gustaría aprender a tocar el piano.
I would like to learn to play the piano.
Él toca la guitarra en una banda de rock.
He plays the guitar in a rock band.
Vamos a jugar un partido de básquetbol.
Let's play a basketball game.
Jugamos videojuegos toda la noche.
We play video games all night.
¡Vamos a echar un partido de tenis!
Let's play a game of tennis!
¿Quieres echar un partidito de fútbol conmigo?
Do you want to play a little soccer with me?
Voy a jugar a la pelota con mis amigos en el parque.
I'm going to play ball with my friends in the park.
Jugamos al baloncesto.
We play basketball.
Él juega a los videojuegos.
He plays video games.
282 more sentences on Tatoeba

Two friends are talking about their weekend plans.

Sources

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