What does it mean word for word?
In Spanish, when you are referring to playing a specific game or sport, the verb jugar is typically followed by the preposition a.
Which one should you use?
While ¿quieres jugar a Fortnite? is a direct way to ask if someone wants to play, the phrase ¿Te apetece jugar a Fortnite? translates more closely to "Do you feel like playing Fortnite?" and is used informally.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, you may hear the colloquial expression ¿Te apuntas a jugar al Fortnite? to mean "Do you want to join to play Fortnite?"
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb changes depending on who you are addressing. Use quieres when asking one person, but change it to quieren if you are asking a group of people (plural). If you want to use the formal singular form, use quiere instead of quieres.
When do people say it?
If you are invited to play, a common and enthusiastic way to respond "yes" in many Spanish-speaking countries is ¡Dale!
Did you know?
- While you are asking to play a game, the word jugar is actually a distant relative of the English word 'joke'.
- While ¡Dale! is a common way to agree to play, the word literally means 'give it' or 'hit it'.
- The verb jugar is a linguistic oddity because it is the only verb in Spanish that undergoes a 'u' to 'ue' vowel change, such as in juego.
Example conversation
Javier and Elena are chatting on a messaging app.
- JavierHola Elena, ¿quieres jugar a Fortnite?Hi Elena, do you want to play Fortnite?
- ElenaSí, me encantaría jugar contigo.Yes, I would love to play with you.
- JavierGenial, voy a conectarme ahora.Great, I'm going to log in now.
- ElenaPerfecto, te espero en el juego.Perfect, I'll wait for you in the game.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries a, jugar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
