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.
parque temático
theme park
The Spanish term 'parque temático' translates to 'theme park' in English. It refers to a type of amusement park that is structured around a particular theme or group of themes. Examples of these themes could range from the future, historical past, fairytales, various forms of media and others. Inside a theme park, you will find various rides, attractions, exhibitions and other entertainment endeavors that all align with the park's chosen theme or themes.
parque zoológico
zoological park
The term 'parque zoológico' in Spanish translates to 'zoological park' in English. A zoological park is a facility where animals are housed within enclosures, displayed to the public, and where they may also breed. Zoological parks are primarily designed for conservation and educational purposes. Different animals from various geographical locations are kept here for people to observe and learn about.
pasar el rato
hang out.
The Spanish term 'pasar el rato' translates to 'hang out' in English. It is used to refer to spending time leisurely with other people, often friends, engaging in social activities or simply passing the time together.
pasar(se)lo bien
spend it well
'Pasar(se)lo bien' in Spanish translates to 'have a good time' in English. It is a common phrase used to express the act of enjoying oneself or making the most out of a situation. It can be used in many contexts like during social gatherings, outings, vacations, etc. It doesn't literally translate to 'spend it well' but provides more of the feeling that you should enjoy or get most out of the experience or time at hand.
pasar(se)lo en grande
pass(se) large
'Pasar(se)lo en grande' is a Spanish phrase which does not translate directly to 'pass(se) large' in English. It is actually an idiomatic expression that equates to 'have a great time' or 'have a blast' in English. It is used when someone is enjoying themselves tremendously or having a lot of fun. The use of reflexive form 'pasárselo en grande' is more common in Spain, whereas in Latin America, it is more typical to hear 'pasarlo en grande'.
pasar(se)lo fenomenal
pass(se) the phenomenal
'Pasar(se)lo fenomenal' is an idiomatic expression in Spanish that doesn't directly translate to 'pass(se) the phenomenal' in English. Generally, it's used to express the idea of having a great time or doing something exceptionally well. The closest English equivalents could be 'having a blast' or 'having a fantastic time'. The '(se)' is optional and is used to add emphasis on the personal enjoyment of the person doing the action.
pasatiempo
pastime
The Spanish word 'pasatiempo' translates to 'pastime' in English. A 'pasatiempo' signifies a hobby or the activity that one engages in their leisure time for enjoyment. It refers to the activities that people do to relax and have fun when they have free time, aside from their main work responsibilities.
pasear por la orilla
stroll along the shore
The term 'pasear por la orilla' in Spanish translates to 'stroll along the shore' in English. This phrase is commonly used in contexts involving walks along a beach or river, portraying a calm and peaceful activity. It is a combined form of the verb 'pasear', which means to walk, 'por la', which means along the, and 'orilla', that represents the shore.
Example sentences with pasear por la orilla →perder peso
lose weight
The Spanish term 'perder peso' translates to 'lose weight' in English. This phrase is often used in the context of fitness, dieting, or health where one is attempting to reduce their body mass, typically by reducing fat content. The verb 'perder' refers to losing or missing something, and 'peso' refers to weight, making it quite a literal translation.
Example sentences with perder peso →pista de baile
dance floor
The Spanish term 'pista de baile' translates to 'dance floor' in English. It is a common phrase used to indicate an area specifically designed or set aside for dancing. Similar to English-speaking countries, in Spanish-speaking countries it is typically found in nightclubs, restaurants, and other places where music entertainment and dancing occur.
pista de una discoteca
dancefloor
The term 'pista de una discoteca' is a Spanish phrase that translates into English as 'dancefloor'. It refers to a specific area, usually in a club or disco, that's set aside for dancing. The floor of this area is often designed to facilitate dancing and may include features such as special lightings. In Spanish speaking countries, this term is commonly used when referring to the area of a club where people go to dance.
planos
plans
The Spanish word 'planos' translates to 'plans' in English. It refers to a detailed proposal for doing or achieving something. It can also mean flat or flat surfaces in a mathematical context, or blueprint in an architectonic context. The translation depends on the context in which it is used.
puzle
puzzle
The term 'puzle' in Spanish translates to 'puzzle' in English. This term is typically used to refer to a game, toy, or problem, that requires ingenuity and often persistence in solving, putting together, or completing. Puzzles can come in many forms, varying from crosswords to jigsaw puzzles, and they often offer a problem-solving challenge that many people find intriguing and enjoyable. Notably, they are not only an entertaining pastime, but also beneficial for mental activity as they can enhance memory, concentration, and cognitive abilities.
rompecabezas
puzzle
The Spanish word 'rompecabezas' translates to 'puzzle' in English. The term 'rompecabezas' literally means 'break heads', which reflects on the mental effort one often needs to put in solving puzzles. In a puzzle, one has to assemble often complex and interlocking pieces in a specific way to make up a complete picture or pattern, which is much like the concept of a 'rompecabezas' in the Spanish language.
salir con amigos
dating friends
The phrase 'salir con amigos' in Spanish translates to 'going out with friends' in English. It does not necessarily mean dating, but simply indicates spending time with friends. This could involve going to a restaurant, seeing a movie, attending a party, or any other social activity. It's a common phrase used in casual, friendly settings. It is grammatically composed of the verb 'salir', which means 'to go out' and the phrase 'con amigos', which means 'with friends'.
salir de copas
get out of drinks
The Spanish phrase 'salir de copas' does not literally translate to 'get out of drinks'. In fact, it's an idiomatic expression in Spanish that means 'to go out for drinks' and often refers to the social activity of going out to bars or clubs, usually at night, and typically including the consumption of alcoholic beverages such as wine, beer, cocktails, etc. It is similar to the English phrase 'going out for a night on the town'.
salir de fiesta
go partying
The Spanish phrase 'salir de fiesta' translates to 'go partying' in English. This phrase is often used in conversational Spanish to express the act of going out for a party or celebration. It is made up of 'salir' which means 'to go out', 'de' means 'of', and 'fiesta' means 'party'. So, literally translated, it would be 'to go out of party', but in a correct English interpretation, it would be 'to go partying'. Note that in Spanish, the verb often comes before the object or the action, which is why 'salir' comes before 'fiesta'.
salir de marcha
Get out of the way
The Spanish phrase 'salir de marcha' does not exactly mean 'get out of the way' in English. It is more commonly used to express 'going out', particularly in the context of going out to party or to enjoy the nightlife. However, Spanish phrases can greatly vary in meaning depending on the region or country.
salir de tapas
out of covers
The Spanish phrase 'salir de tapas' does not literally translate to 'out of covers' in English. Instead, it refers to the popular Spanish practice of 'tapeo' or going to a bar or bars to consume tapas. Tapas are a variety of appetizers or snacks that traditionally accompany a drink. So, 'salir de tapas' is more accurately translated as 'going for tapas' or 'going out for tapas' in English.
ser aficionado a
be amateur
The Spanish phrase 'ser aficionado a' is typically used to refer to having a keen interest or enthusiasm in something, more similar to being a 'fan of' or 'enthusiast in' in English. It is less about professionalism or skill level and more about passion or hobby. Thus, while 'amateur' is technically correct, it implies a lack of proficiency which 'ser aficionado a' does not necessarily convey.
ser coleccionista de
to be a collector of
The Spanish phrase 'ser coleccionista de' translates to 'to be a collector of' in English. It is usually used to describe a person's hobby or passion for collecting various items such as stamps, coins, art pieces, etc. That being said, whatever object or item follows after these Spanish words would identify the kind of items that a person collects. For example, 'ser coleccionista de sellos' means 'to be a collector of stamps'.
tener tiempo libre
having free time
The word 'tener tiempo libre' in Spanish translates to 'having free time' in English.
tener un compromiso
to have a commitment
The Spanish phrase 'tener un compromiso' translates to 'to have a commitment' in English. This phrase is often used to indicate that an individual has a promise or obligation to do something. It can also suggest a moral responsibility. The verb 'tener' translates to 'to have' and 'un compromiso' translates to 'a commitment'. This phrase can be used in various contexts, such as work, personal relationships, or social obligations.
tener una cita
having an appointment
The Spanish phrase 'tener una cita' translates to 'having an appointment' in English. It could mean a variety of contexts like a professional meeting, a doctor's appointment, or a scheduled meeting with someone. Additionally, it could also translate to 'having a date' in a romantic context.
tiempo libre
free time
The Spanish term 'tiempo libre' translates to 'free time' in English. This phrase is typically used to describe one's leisure or downtime outside of their usual commitments such as work or school. Whether it's playing games, reading a book, or simply enjoying the outdoors, all falls under 'tiempo libre'.
tomar algo
Have a drink
The Spanish phrase 'tomar algo' directly translates to 'take something' in English. However, it's a colloquial phrase often used in the context of socializing and it's more accurately translated as 'have a drink'. So, if someone asks you if you want to 'tomar algo', they're not necessarily asking if you want to take something, they're likely asking if you want to go out and have a drink or snack.
tomar el sol
sunbathe
The Spanish phrase 'tomar el sol' translates to 'sunbathe' in English. This activity refers to the act of sitting or lying in the sun, usually for the purpose of getting a tan or simply enjoying the warmth of the sun. In Spanish-speaking countries, it is a common practice especially during the summer months. The verb 'tomar' means 'to take' and 'el sol' translates to 'the sun', making the literal translation 'to take the sun'. However, in actual usage, it effectively means to sunbathe.
Example sentences with tomar el sol →tomar un café
Have a coffee.
The term 'tomar un café' in Spanish translates to 'have a coffee' in English. It's a common phrase used in Spanish speaking cultures in a casual or friendly setting, typically implying sitting down for a relaxed conversation with someone over a cup of coffee. It's an example of how social transactions and the act of consuming food or drink, like coffee, can be intertwined.
tomar una caña
take a reed
'Tomar una caña' is a Spanish phrase and translating it directly to English gives you 'take a reed'. However, it is vital to understand that this phrase is used idiomatically in many Spanish-speaking regions, particularly in Spain. It is a cultural reference and is commonly used to denote 'have a small beer'. 'Caña' also refers to a small glass of beer in many Spanish bars. Instead of requesting a large pint of beer, individuals would 'tomar una caña' or in English 'have a small beer' to enjoy a social gathering or unwind after a day's work.
tomar una copa
Have a drink.
The Spanish phrase 'tomar una copa' translates to 'have a drink' in English. It is commonly used in social situations for meeting up or having a relaxing time. For instance, you may use it while asking someone if they would like to go for a drink. However, remember that 'tomar' also signifies 'taking something', so the meaning can sometimes vary depending on the context.