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.
ir de compras
go shopping
The Spanish term 'ir de compras' directly translates to 'go shopping' in English. It is a common phrase used in Spanish-speaking regions to signify the act of visiting stores and purchasing goods or services. This can refer to any form of shopping, including grocery shopping, clothes shopping, or simply browsing through products at different stores. Just like in English, it can also be used in various contexts, such as planning to shop ('Vamos a ir de compras') or being currently at the shopping mall ('Estoy yendo de compras').
ir de copas
go for drinks
'ir de copas' is a common phrase in Spanish, which directly translates to 'go for glasses'. However, in context, it is typically used to mean 'go for drinks'. This phrase is often used when inviting someone out to a bar or a similar establishment where alcoholic beverages are served. For example, one might say 'Vamos a ir de copas esta noche' to suggest going out for drinks that night.
ir de excursión
go hiking
The phrase 'ir de excursión' is a Spanish term which translates to 'go hiking' in English. It involves activities like walking or climbing mountains, hills, or any similar outdoor environments. This phrase is often used when planning or referring to outdoor activities or trips in Spanish-speaking regions.
ir de fiesta
go party
The Spanish phrase 'ir de fiesta' translates to 'go party' in English. This phrase is commonly used in casual and social contexts, referring to going out to have fun, typically at a nightspot or party. It conveys an idea of music, dance, enjoyment, and socializing with other people. It's a verb phrase, and the usage depends on the subject people are referring to.
ir de juerga
go play
The Spanish phrase 'ir de juerga' does not exactly translate to 'go play' in English. It is actually more accurately translated as 'to go on a spree' or 'to party'. The phrase is used in a colloquial context, often referring to going out to have fun with friends, which may involve partying, drinking, dancing, etc. It implies a sense of indulgence and celebration, rather than simple play.
ir de marcha
go on.
'Ir de marcha' is a Spanish phrase which translates to 'go on' in English. It is often used to describe the act of going out, especially socially or recreationally. Contextually, it specifically refers to going to party or enjoying the nightlife. However, the translation could vary depending upon the context in which it's used.
ir de paseo
go for a walk
The Spanish phrase 'ir de paseo' is commonly used in casual conversation. As a phrase, 'ir de paseo' translates most directly to 'to go for a walk' in English. It is typically used to imply leisurely movement, often for enjoyment, relaxation, or exercise. Though 'walk' is the simplest translation, 'paseo' can also refer to a stroll, outing, or excursion, depending on the situation.
ir de pesca
go fishing
The Spanish phrase 'ir de pesca' translates to 'go fishing' in English. It is a common phrase used in Spanish-speaking countries used to refer to the recreational activity of catching fish, often as a pastime or sport. The direct translation of 'ir' is 'to go' and 'pesca' is 'fishing', making the whole phrase mean 'to go fishing'.
Example sentences with ir de pesca →ir de tapas
go from tapas
'Ir de tapas' is a staple activity in Spanish culture and translates in English as 'go from tapas'. It usually indicates the act of going from one tapas bar to another, trying different small-sized dishes known as 'tapas'. This activity is not only about food, but also about socializing, as it's often done with friends or family.
jardinería
gardening
The Spanish word 'jardinería' translates to 'gardening' in English. Gardening is the practice of growing and cultivating plants as part of horticulture. It is a relaxing and rewarding hobby for many people, allowing them to enjoy the beauty of nature. In Spanish, 'jardinería' carries the same connotations, covering activities such as planting flowers and vegetables, pruning plants, and generally maintaining a tidy and attractive outdoor space.
juego de cartas
card game
The Spanish phrase 'juego de cartas' translates to 'card game' in English. A card game is any game that uses playing cards as its main equipment. These games often have rules that dictate how to use the cards and they can vary greatly in complexity, with some games like 'Go Fish' being simple and straightforward, while others like 'Poker' can be more complicated. Card games can be played for fun, or competitively in tournaments.
juego de mesa
table game
'Juego de mesa' is a Spanish phrase that directly translates to 'table game' in English. It is often used to refer to games that are played on a flat surface, usually a table, such as board games, card games, dice games, miniatures games, and tile-based games. The term encompasses a wide variety of game types, and the specific games that are considered 'juegos de mesa' can vary depending on cultural and regional differences.
jugar a la lotería
play lottery
The Spanish phrase 'jugar a la lotería' translates to 'play lottery' in English. This is a verb phrase that is commonly used to indicate the action of participating in a lottery game with the hope of winning a prize. People tend to 'jugar a la lotería' by purchasing tickets with specific numbers and then waiting for those numbers to possibly be chosen in a future drawing.
jugar a las canicas
play marbles
Play marbles, or 'jugar a las canicas' in Spanish, is a game usually played by children. The game involves using marbles (canicas), which are small spheres often made of glass, and trying to hit each other's marbles with your own. The aim of the game varies, sometimes the purpose is to knock the other's marbles out of a certain region, or to hit a target. This game demonstrates the cultural importance of playful activities amongst children in different cultures.
jugar a las palas
play paddles
The Spanish term 'jugar a las palas' translates to 'play paddles' in English. This phrase is commonly used to describe a recreational activity involving the use of paddles or racquets to hit a ball back and forth. The game is typically played on a beach and is enjoyed by both children and adults. Its simplicity, combined with the physical exercise it offers, makes it a popular choice for an outdoor pastime or an informal sport among friends.
Example sentences with jugar a las palas →jugar a los bolos
play bowling
The Spanish phrase 'jugar a los bolos' is translated as 'play bowling' in English. This phrase is used when referring to the action of participating in the popular sport of bowling. In general, 'jugar' means 'to play', 'a los' is a preposition expressing the action towards something, and 'bolos' is translated as 'bowling'. So, when you want to imply that you are going to play bowling in English, you would say 'Voy a jugar a los bolos' in Spanish.
jugar a los dardos
play darts
The Spanish phrase 'jugar a los dardos' translates to the English phrase 'play darts'. This phrase is often used when referring to the common pub game in which small missiles are thrown at a circular target. 'Jugar' is the Spanish verb for 'play', 'a los' translates to 'the', and 'dardos' is the Spanish term for 'darts'. Thus, when combined, it directly translates to 'play the darts'. However, in English, we typically drop the 'the' and simply say 'play darts'. In Spanish, there may be different variations of this phrase depending on the region and the specific type of dart game being played.
jugar al billar
play pool
The Spanish phrase 'jugar al billar' directly translates to 'play pool' in English. It is commonly used to refer to the act of engaging in the game of billiards or pool. This can take place in various venues such as pubs, clubs, or residential game rooms etc. It is a popular recreational activity or sport enjoyed by many people worldwide.
jugar con la pelota
play with the ball
The phrase 'jugar con la pelota' in Spanish translates to 'play with the ball' in English. It is usually used in the context of sports or games, where 'jugar' means 'to play', 'con' is a preposition that stands for 'with', and 'la pelota' is 'the ball'.
jugar con los juguetes
play with toys
The phrase 'jugar con los juguetes' in Spanish translates to 'play with toys' in English. It is a common verb phrase often used to instruct or explain an activity for children. 'Jugar' is the verb that translates to 'to play', 'con' translates to 'with' and 'los juguetes' translates to 'the toys' in English. Therefore, combined it means 'play with the toys' in English.
jugar una partida
play a game
The Spanish phrase 'jugar una partida' translates to 'play a game' in English. This commonly used phrase indicates the act of participating in a game, which may be a board game, a card game, a video game, or any type of game. The verb 'jugar' means 'to play', while 'una partida' is more literally translated as 'a match', but in this context, it is generally understood to mean 'a game'. This phrase can be used in various tenses and contexts, making it a versatile addition to a Spanish language learner's vocabulary.
leer el periódico
read the newspaper
The term 'leer el periódico' in Spanish refers to the action of reading a newspaper in English. It is a common phrase utilized in Spanish-speaking cultures when someone is engaged in the activity of reading the news printed on a newspaper. This action can be part of a daily routine in many households. 'Leer' is the infinitive form of the verb to read and 'el periódico' refers to the newspaper.
leer un libro
read a book
The Spanish phrase 'leer un libro' translates to 'read a book' in English. This phrase is typically used to talk about the act of reading a book. 'Leer' is the infinitive form of the verb 'to read' in Spanish, and 'un libro' translates to 'a book'. So, if someone tells you 'Me gusta leer un libro', they are saying 'I like to read a book'. This phrase can be used in a variety of contexts in daily conversations.
montar en el tobogán
riding in the slide
The Spanish phrase 'montar en el tobogán' translates to 'riding in the slide' in English. This phrase is commonly used in reference to a recreational activity that mostly children partake in parks or playgrounds, where they ride down a strong, smooth, slanting surface called the slide. The verb 'montar' typically means 'to mount' or 'to ride', whereas 'el tobogán' refers to 'the slide'. Thus, it can be used in various contexts such as a child's playtime or describing activities in an amusement park.
montar en los columpios
riding on swings
The Spanish phrase 'montar en los columpios' translates to 'riding on swings' in English. This phrase is often used in the context of childhood or outdoor activities, and it represents an action or activity in which one rides on a swing, usually in a park or playground. The verb 'montar' is commonly used to denote the action of riding or mounting something, such as a horse, a bike, or, in this case, a swing. 'Los columpios' is the plural form of 'el columpio', which refers to a 'swing' or 'swing set' in English.
ocio
leisure
The word 'ocio' comes from Spanish language, which translates into 'leisure' in English. It is often used to denote free time or a period of relaxation. This word is mainly used in contexts such as recreation, pastime, relaxation activities, or even to represent unoccupied time. In a sentence, you could say: 'Me gusta pasar mi ocio leyendo', which means 'I like to spend my leisure time reading'.
oficina de turismo
tourist office
The Spanish term 'oficina de turismo' translates to 'tourist office' in English. The 'oficina de turismo' is the place where tourists can get information about a destination, including recommendations on places to visit, eat, sleep and enjoy. The objective of a 'oficina de turismo' is to facilitate the experience of visitors, providing them with maps, guidance and all the necessary tools to make the most of their stay. The services provided in this office are generally free of charge and aimed to enhance the touristic potential of the area.
parque acuático
Water park
The Spanish term 'parque acuático' translates to 'water park' in English. A water park is a type of amusement park featuring water play areas, like water slides, splash pads, spraygrounds (water playgrounds), lazy rivers, or other recreational bathing, swimming, and barefooting environments. Water parks may be indoors, outdoors or can be combined with amusement parks.
parque de atracciones
amusement park
The Spanish word 'parque de atracciones' translates to 'amusement park' in English. An amusement park is a type of outdoor area that hosts various entertainment attractions like roller coasters, rides, games, and shows. The term 'parque de atracciones' is often associated with fun and leisure activities shared among friends, families, or individuals seeking enjoyment and thrill.
parque natural
nature park
The Spanish term 'parque natural' translates to 'nature park' in English. A 'parque natural' is a legally declared area, set aside for the purpose of preserving the natural environment, wildlife, and cultural heritage. It may be established in areas that are representative of diverse biomes, ecological regions and landscapes. These parks are often open to the public for purposes of outdoor recreation, education, and tourism, but subject to rules and regulations designed to preserve the natural values of the park.