Which one should you use?
While quieres jugar is a direct way to ask if someone wants to play, you might use ¿Te apetece jugar? to ask if someone "feels like playing?" or ¿Vamos a jugar? to suggest "Shall we play?" Additionally, avoid using jugar when referring to playing a musical instrument. In those cases, you must use the verb tocar.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, when asking a group of friends or children if they want to play, the plural informal form queréis jugar is used.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb querer (to want) must be conjugated to match the subject. For example, quieres jugar (you want to play) changes to quiero jugar (I want to play).
How do you pronounce it?
/kjeɾes xuɡaɾ/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use jugar when talking about musical instruments. Instead, use the verb tocar, such as tocar la guitarra.
Did you know?
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, asking quieres jugar? in a romantic or flirtatious context can shift the meaning from a game to a suggestive invitation.
- The verb jugar is the only verb in the Spanish language that features the specific vowel change from 'u' to 'ue' in its conjugation.
- The Spanish verb jugar is a distant relative of the English word 'joke'. Both words share an ancient root meaning 'jest' or 'joke'.
Examples in context
- ¿Quieres jugar al escondite?Do you want to play hide and seek?This is useful for asking if someone wants to play hide and seek using quieres jugar.Tatoeba #5059554 by albrusgher, translation #2530543 by CK
- ¿Quieres jugar al ajedrez conmigo?Do you want to play chess with me?This shows how to ask if someone wants to play chess with you using quieres jugar.Tatoeba #13711962 by ecorralest101, translation #13711958 by frpzzd
- ¿Quieres jugar fútbol con nosotros?Do you want to play soccer with us?This is a way to ask if someone wants to play soccer with your group using quieres jugar.Tatoeba #2916695 by marcelostockle, translation #2626951 by Joseph
- 8 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alejandro and Lucía are in the park on a sunny afternoon.
- Alejandro¿Quieres jugar en el parque?Do you want to play in the park?
- LucíaSí, me encantaría.Yes, I would love to.
- Alejandro¡Qué bien! Traje una pelota.Great! I brought a ball.
- LucíaPerfecto, vamos a correr.Perfect, let's go run.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries jugar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
