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"Play" is an intransitive verb which is often translated as "jugar", and "go" is an intransitive verb which is often translated as "ir". Learn more about the difference between "play" and "go" below.
play(
pley
)An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
3. (sports)
a. jugar
They won't be able to play tonight because of the rain.No podrán jugar esta noche por la lluvia.
4. (to sound)
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
6. (games)
b. jugar (Latin America)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
Playing chess requires great powers of concentration.Jugar ajedrez requiere una gran capacidad de concentración.
7. (sports)
b. jugar (Latin America)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
I loved playing tennis when I was young.Me encantaba jugar tenis de joven.
8. (to compete)
a. jugar contra
This is the first time they have played a professional team in a professional league.Es la primera vez que juegan contra un equipo profesional en una liga profesional.
b. interpretar
The orchestra played Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 in D minor.La orquesta interpretó la novena sinfonía de Beethoven en re menor.
a. interpretar
He plays Hamlet in the new production of the play.Interpreta a Hamlet en la nueva producción de la obra.
b. desempeñar
The king played an important role in the Spanish transition to democracy.El rey desempeñó un papel importante en la transición española hacia la democracia.
11. (to joke)
a. gastar
For some reason, he enjoys playing practical jokes on people.Por alguna razón le gusta gastar bromas pesadas a la gente.
12. (to direct)
a. dirigir
He played the flashlight over the cover of the book.Dirigió la luz de la linterna hacia la cubierta del libro.
13. (to listen to)
a. poner
My neighbor plays the same song over and over again.Mi vecina pone la misma canción una y otra vez.
a. actuar en
The Rolling Stones played Glastonbury for the first time in 2013.Los Rolling Stones actuaron en Glastonbury por primera vez en 2013.
A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
16. (recreation)
17. (sports)
b. la jugada (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Thanks to an inspired play from my teammate, we won the match.Gracias a una jugada inspirada de mi compañero de equipo, ganamos el partido.
18. (theater)
b. la obra de teatro (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
The acclaimed actor has starred in many plays on Broadway.El actor aclamado ha protagonizado muchas obras de teatro en Broadway.
a. el juego (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
We watched the play of light and shadow on the water's surface.Observamos el juego de luces y sombras en la superficie del agua.
b. la interacción (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
It is the play among different economic actors that determines market prices.Es la interacción entre distintos actores económicos lo que determina los precios del mercado.
a. el juego (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
What's wrong with your bike? - There’s too much play in the rear wheel.¿Qué tiene tu bicicleta? - La rueda de atrás tiene demasiado juego.
b. la holgura (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
The window rattles when the wind blows because there's too much play in the guides.La ventana se sacude con el viento porque hay demasiada holgura en las guías.
go(
go
)An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
a. ir
Does this bus go to the city center?¿Va este bus al centro de la ciudad?
Go to your room.Ve a tu habitación.
2. (to leave)
a. ir
I hope everything goes well for you in the new job.Espero que todo te vaya bien en el trabajo nuevo.
4. (to become)
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Carla went white with fear.Carla se puso blanca de miedo.
The fans went crazy when the band came on stage.Los fans se enloquecieron cuando el grupo salió al escenario.
6. (to extend)
8. (to be left)
10. (to fit)
11. (to be sold)
a. ir al baño
She had bladder problems and needed to go all the time.Tenía problemas de la vejiga y tenía que ir al baño constantemente.
14. (to be the rule)
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Anything goes in that household.Todo vale en esa casa.
What I say goes.Yo soy la que manda aquí.
15. (to die)
a. llegar la hora
When I go, I don't want a big funeral.Cuando me llegue la hora, no quiero un gran funeral.
16. (to be consumed)
18. (to disappear)
a. desaparecer
When she got back home, her husband was gone.Cuando volvió a casa, su marido había desaparecido.
20. (to dispose of)
a. deshacerse de
All your old clothes have to go if you want to buy more.Tienes que deshacerte de toda tu ropa vieja si quieres comprar más.
22. (to be)
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
I won't let my children go hungry.No voy a dejar que mi hijos pasen hambre.
Their pleas went unheard.Sus súplicas no fueron atendidas.
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
I'll have whatever's going.Tomaré lo que haya.
There's plenty of beer going around if you're interested.Hay mucha cerveza por aquí si quieres.
24. (to continue)
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
How many years has the choir been going?¿Cuántos años lleva funcionando el coro?
She would go for days without seeing another soul.Pasaba días enteros sin ver a un alma.
a. sonar
The alarm goes off if someone forces the door.La alarma suena cuando alguien fuerza la puerta.
26. (to be destined)
b. llevarse
First prize went to a graphic designer.El primer premio se lo llevó un diseñador gráfico.
27. (to match)
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
28. (to travel)
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
We went 70 miles in one day.Hicimos 70 millas en un día.
We'll go this way because there is less traffic.Seguiremos este camino porque hay menos tráfico.
29. (colloquial) (to say)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
An auxiliary verb, or helper verb, is a conjugated verb that comes before a main verb and determines the main verb's tense, mood, or aspect (e.g., I have gone.).
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Don't touch that! - I wasn't going to.¡No toques eso! - No pensaba hacerlo.
I'm going to mow the lawn this afternoon.Voy a cortar el césped esta tarde.
A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
to-go
A phrase is a group of words commonly used together (e.g., once upon a time).
35. (idiom) (to be eaten elsewhere)
An idiom is a phrase with a meaning different from the literal meaning of the separate words that make it up (e.g., break a leg).
a. para llevar
I don't think I can finish all this food. Would you bring me a to-go box?No creo que pueda terminar toda esta comida. ¿Me traería una cajita para llevar?
We ordered our food to go so that we could continue working.Pedimos la comida para llevar para poder continuar trabajando.
36. (idiom) (remaining)
An idiom is a phrase with a meaning different from the literal meaning of the separate words that make it up (e.g., break a leg).
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Only one day to go until your birthday!¡Solo falta un día para tu cumpleaños!
Two weeks to go until Holy Week.Faltan dos semanas para Semana Santa.
