board game vocabulary

Question

How do I say...

Go forward 2 spaces

Go back 2 spaces

when making a board game for my Spanish class students?

Answer 1

Based on these two dictionary entries:

http://www.spanishdict.com/translate/avanzar

avanzó la ficha cuatro casillas he moved the counter forward four spaces; he advanced the counter four spaces;

http://www.spanishdict.com/translate/retroceder

tienes que retroceder a la primera casilla you have to go back to the first square

My guess would be if you want a tú command:

****Retrocede (la ficha) dos casillas**

**Avanza (la ficha) dos casillas****

This not based on prior knowledge, just use of the dictionary and basic grammar, so wait for confirmation/other opinions as to what might be most natural.

Regresar/Volver... ? - Faldaesque, May 15, 2015

Don't know, went with the likely sounding verbs that had examples in the dictionary that related to actual movement of pieces on a board. :) - bosquederoble, May 15, 2015

Great answer, Bosque :) - FELIZ77, May 16, 2015

Falda, the context and examples in each context will determine the most appropriate verb or word you will need to use! :) - FELIZ77, May 16, 2015

Falda, good guess but I don't think that the verbs volver or regresar woukd work in this context because you are moving inanimate objects, instead of people choosing to move; but I could be wrong/mistaken, of couse - FELIZ77, May 16, 2015

Answer 2

Hello Cioannu,

Welcome to the SpanishDict forum

There is one particular sentence that stuck out for me when checking out the second link provided by Bosque:

Tienes que retroceder a la primera casilla.

= You have to go back to the first square.

I therefore agree with Bosque and say that I believe that the two verbs would probably be:

to move forward / to advance spaces (squares) = avanzar

ex 1: Avanza dos casillas = Move forward two spaces.

Retroceder = to go back spaces

ex 2: Retrocede dos casillas.

= Go back two spaces!

I hope this helps