Thursday, 5 March 2009

Soccer Vocabulary

One thing I've found to be really helpful in sparking conversations with Spaniards is knowledge of Spanish soccer. The people of Spain are die-hard soccer fans making this topic a great conversation starter. I've found a pretty comprehensive list of vocabulary that has helped me in making Spanish friends. In fact, my Spanish speaking parter recently took me to a Real Betis match with her family where I made use of many of these terms. It was an incredible experience that would recommend to anyone visiting Spain.

The Field
  • el campo; la cancha; el terreno de juego = the field, the pitch
  • la mitad de la cancha; el medio de la cancha = the middle/half of the field
  • el area = the penalty box
  • linea de banda = sideline; touchline
  • linea de fondo? = endline; goal-line
  • punto penal = penalty spot
  • manchpunto derecho = right corner flag
  • punto surdo, izquierdo = left corner flag

The Teams
  • la seleccion = usually a national team
  • equipo; conjunto = team
  • equipo visitante = visiting team
  • equipo local = home team
  • las alineaciones; el plantel = the lineups; the roster
  • director tecnico; D.T. = the coach

The Players
  • jugador = player
  • defensor = defender
  • mediocampista = midfielder
  • laterales = wingers
  • arquero; conservero; guardameta; portero = goalkeeper
  • volante; atacante; delantero = forward; striker
  • hombre de punta = usually a lone striker; any forward
  • goleador = a goal scorer, one who scores very often
  • maximo goleador = leading goalscorer
  • hombres de relevo = reserve players
  • lesionado = injured
  • paisano; coterraneo = countryman

The Fans
  • la asistencia = the attendance
  • el publico; los aficionados = the fans
  • tacones; tacos = soccer shoes/cleats/boots
  • pie = foot
  • la barra brava; los fanaticos = the dedicated fans
  • la barra; la tribuna; la hinchada = same as above

Rules and Standings
  • el marcador = the score
  • el comienzo; arranque = the beginning, the start (of the season,of the game,etc)
  • primer tiempo/periodo = first half
  • segundo tiempo = second half
  • tiempo reglamentario = regulation time
  • el arbitro = the referee
  • juez de linea = linesman; line judge; referee’s assistant
  • substitucion = to leave the field (as in substitution)
  • entrar = to enter the field (as in substitution)
  • la temporada; el torneo; el campionato = the season
  • la ligilla; los play-offs = the playoffs
  • la revancha = the second leg in a two-game series or revenge, as in the second time that two teams meet
  • invicto = undefeated
  • carton amarillo; tarjeta amarilla = yellow card
  • carton rojo; targeta roja = red card
  • expulsion = ejection
  • hacer tiempo = to waste time (intentionally)
  • tactico = tactics; strategy
  • abilidoso; muy abil = technical ball skill

Technical Terms
  • la/una jugada; maniobra = the/a play; “handiwork”
  • jugadas de pelota parada = set plays
  • cruce; centro = cross; center (e.g. into the penalty area)
  • lateral; saque lateral; saque de banda = throw in
  • tiro de meta; saque de meta = goalkick
  • tiro de esquina; corner = corner kick
  • fuera de juego; posicion adelantada; offside = offside
  • tiro libre = free kick
  • infraccion = infraction
  • tiro penal; penalty = penalty kick
  • la banca = the bench
  • el cambio = the substitution
  • calentando = warming up (reserve players)
  • en casa = at home
  • visitante = on the road
  • de primera (intencion) = first-time; one-time
  • de chilena = bicycle kick; overhead volley
  • en palomita = diving header
  • de taco = backheel pass
  • remate; disparo = shot at goal
  • completamente desviado = a shot way off the mark
  • bombazo; canonazo; bazookazo = a REALLY hard shot at goal, usually from long distance
  • defenir = to finish (an opportunity)
  • marcar; denotar = to score a goal
  • empatar = to tie/draw
  • cabezazo; golpe de cabeza = header
  • codazo = elbow foul
  • hombrazo = shoulder foul
  • mano = handball
  • abrir la cancha = to open the field (i.e. spread it out to the wings)
  • cambio de frente = a switch of play to the opposite side of the field
  • contragolpe = counterattack
  • al medio; por la mitad = to/through the middle
  • la barrera = the defensive wall during a free kick
  • pase = pass
  • en corto = very short passing; early cross?
  • devolution = return pass
  • despeje = defensive clearance

Describing the Run of Play
  • No hay tiempo para mas! = There’s no time for any more! (end of first half, regulation time, overtime, etc.)
  • Viene, viene, viene! = Here it comes! It’s coming! (a goal)
  • Esta! = “It’s (almost) here!” (a goal)
  • No vale! No vale! = It doesn’t count! (disallowed goal, or when play proceeds a little after the offside call, etc.)
  • Paso Wynalda! = “Wynalda broke through!” en el piso = on the ground (as in keeping the ball low; or as in reference to a fallen player; etc.)
  • de punta y para arriba = of a ball hit long and high (said with a negative tone…)
  • lento = slow
  • totalmente desviado = totally off the mark (a shot at goal)
  • afuera = outside (refers to shots that go wide)
  • arriba = up (refers to shots over the crossbar)
  • buscando el empate = looking for the tie, or striving for the tying goal
  • lo perdise equivoco = he messed up
  • bien = good
  • mal = bad
  • de larga distancia; desde lejos = from long distance
  • correr = to run
  • pedir = to ask for (e.g. the ball)
  • cuidar la pelota = to maintain possession of the ball (by a player or team)
  • recuperar = to regain (the ball)
  • Peligro! = danger! (as during a threat at goal)
  • dejarla/lo = to leave it (the ball) for another player to run onto
  • Lo pego! = he hit it! (at goal)
  • presion = pressure (defensive or offensive)
  • salida = a play bringing the ball out of one’s defensive half
  • desde el fondo = from the back (as in an attack generated by the defense)
  • ganar = to win
  • perder = to lose
  • …que favorese = …”in favor of; for; belonging to (El tiro libre que favorese al Clash… = The free kick for the Clash…)
  • pelear; luchar = to fight (for the ball, for the win, with each other, etc.)

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