mundial
/munˈdjal/masculine
The English phrase "world cup" is translated into Spanish as mundial or Copa Mundial.
Meaning: international football tournament, other sports competitions similar to this (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| mundial | /munˈdjal/ | masculine |
| Copa Mundial | /ˌkopa munˈdjal/ | feminine |
These terms refer to the international football tournament or other similar sports competitions. In many Spanish-speaking countries, speakers often use el mundial as a shorthand noun to refer specifically to the FIFA World Cup.
Which one should you use?
Mundial is a common, shorter way to refer to the tournament in conversation, whereas Copa Mundial is the more formal, full name.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, the World Cup is sometimes simply referred to as the Mundial.
How does it change in a sentence?
When using the shortened form mundial as a noun, it is masculine and requires the masculine article el. When using the phrase Copa Mundial, the noun Copa is feminine and requires the feminine article la.
How do you pronounce it?
/munˈdjal/
Did you know?
- In some Spanish-speaking regions, sports fans use the phrase la fiesta del fútbol as a poetic synonym for the Copa Mundial.
- In Spanish, copa can also refer to the crown of a tree or the top of a mountain.
- The word copa refers to a trophy or a cup, but it is also the Spanish word for a 'glass' used for drinking wine. This creates a playful linguistic connection between the prize and the celebration.
Examples in context
- Alemania ganó la copa mundial 2014.Germany won the 2014 World Cup.This sentence shows how to use mundial when discussing a specific year of the tournament.Tatoeba #3373871 by cueyayotl, translation #11184919 by DJ_Saidez
- Holanda ganó la Copa Mundial del 2010.The Netherlands have won the 2010 World Cup.This sentence demonstrates the use of mundial in the context of a past tournament winner.Tatoeba #1249409 by marcelostockle, translation #425580 by Scott
- En 1958, Brasil ganó su primera Copa Mundial.In 1958, Brazil won its first World Cup victory.This sentence illustrates how to use mundial when referring to a country's first tournament victory.Tatoeba #4468994 by cueyayotl, translation #479130 by CK
- ¿Quién ganará la Copa del Mundo este año?Who will win the World Cup this year?
- El equipo local está emocionado por competir en el Mundial de FútbolThe local team is excited to compete in the World Cup
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Javier and Lucía are discussing football in a cafe.
- Javier¿Vas a ver el mundial hoy?Are you going to watch the world cup today?
- LucíaSí, me encanta el mundial.Yes, I love the world cup.
- JavierLucía, ¿qué equipo prefieres?Lucía, which team do you prefer?
- LucíaPrefiero al equipo de mi país.I prefer my country's team.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “world cup” translations and entries mundial, Copa Mundial, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
