Free Time, Leisure and Entertainment Vocabulary
A collection of Spanish words and phrases related to free time activities and entertainment, for beginner English speakers learning Spanish.
estar libre
to be free
The Spanish term 'estar libre' directly translates to 'to be free' in English. It is composed of the verb 'estar' which means 'to be' in the context of a transient state or condition, and the adjective 'libre' meaning 'free', often used to express freedom or lack of restriction. It is generally employed when referring to conditions or situations where one is not confined, controlled, or limited, and can act according to their will.
estar ocioso
to be idle
The Spanish phrase 'estar ocioso' directly translates to 'to be idle' in English. It refers to the state of inactivity or the condition of not being in use or in action. Frequently, it may also imply unproductivity or idleness on the part of an individual, therefore it's often used to criticize anyone not making a meaningful contribution or simply whiling away their time.
estar ocupado
to be busy
The Spanish phrase 'estar ocupado' translates to 'to be busy' in English. It's often used to explain that someone is actively engaged or heavily involved in a task or activity and thus doesn't have time to do other things. It can refer to occupation in both professional and personal contexts, and can encapsulate either short-term or long-term states of busyness.
expansión
expansion
The Spanish word 'expansión' translates to 'expansion' in English. It is used in a variety of scenarios. For example, in the context of business, it involves increasing business or trade activities. Additionally, it can also refer to the act of becoming larger or more extensive. It is a noun and is commonly used in fields like physics, economics, and geography to describe proper waning or growth of a certain entity or area.
festividad
holidays
The Spanish word 'festividad' translates to 'holidays' in English. It is often used to describe a day or period of celebration recognized by a country or culture where typically, normal everyday activities such as work and schooling are suspended. 'Festividad' can also refer to festive activities and celebrations that take place on these special dates. This term encompasses both singular and plural holiday events.
fiesta animada
animated party
The Spanish term 'fiesta animada' translates to 'animated party' in English. In a practical context, it can refer to a lively or spirited party where animations or lively entertainments considered as the main part of the event. The term 'animada' implies vibrancy, enthusiasm, and excitement, often indicating that the participants are actively involved, enjoying the activities, and the party atmosphere is energetic or animated.
fiesta concurrida
a busy party
The Spanish term 'fiesta concurrida' translates in English to 'busy party'. This is often used to describe a social event or gathering that is attended by a large number of people. It may refer to various types of events such as a birthday party, a party at a club, a festival, or any event where there are many individuals present. This term can also denote a sense of liveliness or excitement due to the high population present at the event.
fiesta de disfraces
costume party
The Spanish phrase 'fiesta de disfraces' translates to 'costume party' in English. It denotes a kind of party where all guests are required to wear a costume, often themed, and usually involves celebration and various party activities. This is a common tradition in many cultures globally, notable during holidays like Halloween and Carnival.
fiesta desenfrenada
wild party
The Spanish phrase 'fiesta desenfrenada' translates to 'wild party' in English. This is usually used to describe a party with uninhibited fun and revelry that may involve loud music, dancing, and consumption of alcoholic beverages. It connotes a sense of freedom and euphoria and can also imply a lack of control or regulation. Typically, the atmosphere in such a party is very lively and exciting, often going on until the early hours of the morning.
fiesta espectacular
spectacular party
The Spanish phrase 'fiesta espectacular' translates to 'spectacular party' in English. It specifically refers to an event or gathering that is extraordinarily festive and entertaining. It can describe various types of events, from birthday parties to public festivals, that are characterized by a high level of excitement, enjoyment, and often, a large number of attendees.
hacer algo por diversión
do something for fun
The Spanish phrase 'hacer algo por diversión' translates to 'do something for fun' in English. It is often used to express that someone is engaging in an activity, not out of necessity or obligation, but simply for the joy or pleasure derived from it. Like in English, this phrase can be applied to a broad range of activities, from sports and games, to hobbies like reading or painting.
hacer alpinismo
do mountaineering
The Spanish phrase 'hacer alpinismo' translates to 'do mountaineering' in English. This term refers to the activity of climbing mountains as a form of sport or recreational exposure. The phrase showcases the flexibility of the Spanish verb 'hacer,' which means 'to do' and can be used in a vast range of contexts. 'Alpinismo' directly translates to 'alpinism' or 'mountaineering,' denoting a specific outdoor activity that involves ascending mountains. Together, 'hacer alpinismo' communicates the act of engaging in this adventurous pastime.
Example sentences with hacer alpinismo →hacer crucigramas
do puzzles
The Spanish phrase 'hacer crucigramas' translates to 'do puzzles' in English. This is a common phrase used in Spanish when referring to someone engaging in puzzle-related activities like crossword puzzles, jigsaw puzzles, or other types of brain teasers. It denotes the action of solving, assembling, or actively working on a puzzle.
hacer el vago
to be lazy
The Spanish phrase 'hacer el vago' translates to 'to be lazy' in English. This is often used in contexts where someone is avoiding work, not doing anything productive, or generally exhibiting lazy behavior.
hacer un curso de cocina
make a cooking course
The Spanish phrase 'hacer un curso de cocina' translates to 'make a cooking course' in English. This means to enroll and participate in a class or program specifically designed to teach the culinary arts. It could be a professional course aiming to train professional chefs, or simply a hobby course for individuals who are interested in improving their cooking skills. Learning in such a course could include various aspects of cooking from preparing basic and simple dishes to more complex and elaborate meal preparations.
hacer un curso de jardinería
do a gardening course
The Spanish phrase 'hacer un curso de jardinería' translates to 'do a gardening course' in English. It implies that one is participating in or intends to take up a study or learning program specifically focused on gardening. Gardening encompasses the practice of growing and cultivating plants as part of horticulture. In this context, a gardening course could include lessons on various topics such as plant identification, gardening techniques, plant care and maintenance, and landscape design.
hacer un picnic
Have a picnic
The Spanish phrase 'hacer un picnic' directly translates to 'have a picnic' in English. It is an action for which participants prepare and take food to eat outdoors, often in a scenic location, such as a park or lakeside. It is commonly associated with pleasant weather and leisure time. Moreover, it is a popular recreational activity among individuals, families, and friends.
inscribirse en un club
sign up for a club
The Spanish phrase 'inscribirse en un club' translates in English to 'sign up for a club'. The verb 'inscribirse' is a reflexive verb referring to the action of enlisting or registering oneself. The phrase is often used in the context of joining clubs, teams, or organizations, where one is required to enter their personal data in a form or a similar kind of entity to become a member of said club or organization. Thus, 'inscribirse en un club' can also mean to enroll in or to join a club.
inscribirse en un grupo
enroll in a group
The Spanish phrase 'inscribirse en un grupo' translates to 'enroll in a group' in English. This phrase can be used in various contexts where one is looking to become a member of a group or organization. For instance, 'inscribirse en un grupo' might be used when signing up for a sports team, a club, or a class. Especially in educational settings, this phrase is commonly used in the processes of registration for classes or extracurricular activities.
inscribirse en una asociación
enrollment in an association
The Spanish phrase 'inscribirse en una asociación' translates to 'enrollment in an association' in English. This refers to the act of officially joining a group, club, or organization, expressing your intention to be a member and participate in its activities. This could be done either for a social cause, academic purpose, or recreational activities. Throughout the process, you may be required to provide personal information and/or pay a fee.
invitar
invite
The Spanish word 'invitar' translates to 'invite' in English. It is a verb that is used in the context of asking someone to attend an event, participate in an activity, or to join in something. Example usages include 'invitar a un amigo a una fiesta' which translates to 'invite a friend to a party', or 'voy a invitar a mis padres a cenar' meaning 'I am going to invite my parents to dinner'. The word 'invitar' is also used in certain phrases or expressions, like 'te invito a pensar' which in English becomes 'I invite you to think'.
ir a un bar
go to a bar
The Spanish phrase 'ir a un bar' translates to 'go to a bar' in English. It is composed of 'ir' which means 'to go', 'a' a preposition equivalent to 'to' in English, 'un' which translates to 'a', and 'bar' which is the same in both languages. So, when you say 'ir a un bar', you are basically saying you are going or want to go to a bar.
ir a un café
go to a coffee
The Spanish phrase 'ir a un café' translates to 'go to a coffee shop' in English. This refers to the act of travelling to a location where coffee is served, often in a casual, relaxed setting. Coffee shops are popular social spots where people often go to meet friends, read, study, or work. The phrase can be used in many different conversational contexts.
ir a un museo
go to a museum
The Spanish phrase 'ir a un museo' translates to 'go to a museum' in English. This phrase can be broken down into 'ir' meaning 'to go', 'a' meaning 'to', and 'un museo' meaning 'a museum'. This phrase is often used when mentioning plans or desires to visit a museum. Like English, the phrase is versatile and can be used in a variety of contexts such as 'Vamos a ir a un museo mañana' which means 'We are going to a museum tomorrow.
ir a un restaurante
go to a restaurant
The Spanish phrase 'ir a un restaurante' translates to 'go to a restaurant' in English. This is in the infinitive form and is generally used when one is expressing the intention or plan to go to a restaurant. It can be used in a variety of contexts and can be adapted to different tenses based on the intended meaning.
ir a una discoteca
go to a disco
The Spanish phrase 'ir a una discoteca' translates to 'go to a disco' in English. This phrase is typically used to indicate one's intention to visit a nightclub or disco, and can be used in both casual and formal contexts. It comes from the verb 'ir' which means 'to go', 'a' which is a preposition that typically means 'to' or 'at', and 'una discoteca' which means 'a disco'. Overall, this phrase is a representation of a common activity in many Spanish-speaking cultures, offering insight into social behaviors and entertainment preferences.
ir al cine
go to the movies
The phrase 'ir al cine' in Spanish translates to 'go to the movies' in English. It is typically used in everyday conversation, and is indicative of a common leisure activity. Similar to its usage in English, 'ir al cine' is applicable in a variety of scenarios, from making plans with friends, to sharing past events or future intentions. You can use it in sentences like 'Vamos a ir al cine esta noche.' which means 'We are going to the movies tonight.' in English.
ir al parque
go to the park
The Spanish phrase 'ir al parque' translates to 'go to the park' in English. It's a common phrase that is used to discuss plans or suggest an activity. The word 'ir' is the base form of the verb which means 'to go'. 'Al' is a contraction of the preposition 'a' which means 'to' and 'el' which means 'the'. 'Parque' simply means 'park'. Together, they literally translate to 'to go to the park'.
ir al teatro
go to the theater
The phrase 'ir al teatro' in Spanish translates to 'go to the theater' in English. In this instance, 'ir' means 'go', 'al' is a contraction of 'a el' which means 'to the', and 'teatro' translates directly to 'theater'. This phrase could be used to tell someone about your plans for the evening. For example, you might say 'Voy a ir al teatro', meaning 'I am going to go to the theater'.
ir de camping
go camping
The Spanish phrase 'ir de camping' translates to 'go camping' in English. This is usually used to express an outdoor recreational activity where people take temporary residence in outdoor areas, typically in forests or near designated campgrounds. It is an common activity for people who want to enjoy nature and participate in activities like hiking, fishing, or just enjoy the serenity of a night under the stars.