40 Spanish Playtime Vocabulary Words: Make Learning a Game
If your preschooler can sing every word of their favorite song, they can learn Spanish too—especially when learning feels like play. For busy parents like you, it can feel overwhelming to fit Spanish practice into everyday life. However, the secret is simpler than you think: the best time to teach Spanish is during the moments you’re already spending together.
This list of Spanish playtime vocabulary words helps your child connect language with joy, imagination, and fun. Through toys, games, and pretend play, your little one will start recognizing real Spanish words and using them naturally. In fact, learning through play not only builds vocabulary faster but also strengthens memory, social skills, and cultural awareness.
In this post, you’ll explore 40 playful Spanish words and phrases grouped into easy themes—from toys in the playroom to imagination games. By the end, you’ll have everything you need to make every play session bilingual, interactive, and exciting.
En el Cuarto de Juegos (In the Playroom)
The playroom is where learning begins! These words help your preschooler describe toys they already love, making Spanish instantly familiar.
El Peluche – Stuffed animal
A cuddly toy that brings comfort and fun.
Ejemplo: Mi peluche favorito es un oso. — “My favorite stuffed animal is a bear.”
El Bloque – Block
Used in building games and stacking activities.
Ejemplo: Los bloques son de colores brillantes. — “The blocks are bright colors.”
El Rompecabezas – Puzzle
Perfect for quiet play and focus.
Ejemplo: El rompecabezas tiene cien piezas. — “The puzzle has one hundred pieces.”
La Muñeca / El Muñeco – Doll / Action figure
Used for storytelling or pretend play.
Ejemplo: La muñeca tiene un vestido azul. — “The doll has a blue dress.”
El Tren – Train
A common toy in any playroom and great for imaginative play.
Ejemplo: El tren pasa por el túnel. — “The train goes through the tunnel.”
El Carrito – Toy car
Small vehicles perfect for racing around the room.
Ejemplo: El carrito rojo va muy rápido. — “The red toy car goes very fast.”
El Balón – Ball
Used in many games—different from pelota, which refers to smaller balls.
Ejemplo: El balón rebota en el suelo. — “The ball bounces on the floor.”
La Caja de Juguetes – Toy box
The magical place where all toys live!
Ejemplo: Guarda los juguetes en la caja. — “Put the toys in the box.”
When children use these words, they’re not just learning vocabulary—they’re practicing Spanish through movement, play, and curiosity.
Juegos y Actividades (Games and Activities)
Now that we know the toys, it’s time to describe the actions. These words are verbs your preschooler can act out during games, which makes them easier to remember.
Correr – To run
Great for active games and movement play.
Ejemplo: Nos gusta correr en el jardín. — “We like to run in the garden.”
Saltar – To jump
Often used during music and movement games.
Ejemplo: Saltar es mi parte favorita del juego. — “Jumping is my favorite part of the game.”
Girar – To spin or turn
Used for dancing, turning toys, or playing “Ring Around the Rosie.”
Ejemplo: Gira como un trompo. — “Spin like a top.”
Atrapar – To catch
Used when playing ball games.
Ejemplo: Atrapa la pelota con las dos manos. — “Catch the ball with both hands.”
Esconderse – To hide
Perfect for hide-and-seek and imaginative play.
Ejemplo: Me escondo detrás del sofá. — “I hide behind the couch.”
Contar – To count
Useful for number games and puzzles.
Ejemplo: Vamos a contar los bloques. — “Let’s count the blocks.”
Compartir – To share
Encourages good social habits during playtime.
Ejemplo: Compartimos los juguetes con los amigos. — “We share toys with our friends.”
Ganar / Perder – To win / To lose
Essential for teaching sportsmanship and fairness.
Ejemplo: Ganar o perder, lo importante es jugar. — “Win or lose, what matters is playing.”
Jugar – To play
The heart of every game!
Ejemplo: Me gusta jugar con mis amigos. — “I like to play with my friends.”
Learning action words keeps kids active and immersed in Spanish naturally. Therefore, your child won’t just hear new words—they’ll act them out, building memory through movement.
En el Parque (At the Park)
Outdoor play adds new environments and experiences, expanding your child’s Spanish world beyond home.
El Tobogán – Slide
Always a favorite playground spot.
Ejemplo: Bajo por el tobogán muy rápido. — “I go down the slide very fast.”
El Columpio – Swing
Perfect for talking about motion and fun.
Ejemplo: El columpio sube y baja. — “The swing goes up and down.”
La Arena – Sand
Great for sensory play and creativity.
Ejemplo: Construimos un castillo de arena. — “We build a sandcastle.”
La Cuerda – Rope
Used for jumping or climbing.
Ejemplo: Salta la cuerda tres veces. — “Jump the rope three times.”
El Árbol – Tree
An everyday nature word that builds environmental vocabulary.
Ejemplo: El árbol tiene flores rosadas. — “The tree has pink flowers.”
El Pasto – Grass
Useful for outdoor games.
Ejemplo: Jugamos sobre el pasto verde. — “We play on the green grass.”
El Charco – Puddle
A fun word for rainy days!
Ejemplo: Saltamos en los charcos después de la lluvia. — “We jump in puddles after the rain.”
El Banco – Bench
A place to rest or observe the playground.
Ejemplo: Nos sentamos en el banco a descansar. — “We sit on the bench to rest.”
Each of these words helps parents bring Spanish into real-life contexts, connecting language with outdoor fun and sensory experiences.
Colores, Formas y Cosas Divertidas (Colors, Shapes & Fun Things)
Descriptive words help your child express what they see and feel while playing. In addition, they’re great for building early grammar awareness.
Rojo / Azul / Amarillo / Verde – Red / Blue / Yellow / Green
Color words your preschooler can recognize and use easily.
Ejemplo: El carro es rojo y la pelota es azul. — “The car is red and the ball is blue.”
El Círculo – Circle
A basic shape often found in toys and puzzles.
Ejemplo: El rompecabezas tiene muchas piezas en forma de círculo. — “The puzzle has many circular pieces.”
El Cuadro – Square
Appears in building blocks and games.
Ejemplo: Pinta un cuadro amarillo. — “Paint a yellow square.”
El Triángulo – Triangle
Used to describe musical instruments or puzzle shapes.
Ejemplo: El triángulo es una figura divertida. — “The triangle is a fun shape.”
El Corazón – Heart
Great for art projects or Valentine’s crafts.
Ejemplo: Corta un corazón de papel. — “Cut a paper heart.”
Brillante – Bright or shiny
Used for colorful toys or decorations.
Ejemplo: Las luces del árbol son muy brillantes. — “The tree lights are very bright.”
Suave – Soft
Describes textures for sensory play.
Ejemplo: El peluche es muy suave. — “The stuffed animal is very soft.”
Ruidoso – Noisy
Adds humor to describing loud toys.
Ejemplo: El tambor es ruidoso pero divertido. — “The drum is noisy but fun.”
Because these words describe what children already experience through their senses, they quickly become part of their natural speech. Consequently, parents can reinforce them easily during crafts, coloring, or sorting games.
Palabras de la Imaginación (Imagination & Pretend Play)
Pretend play gives language a story. When children act out roles, they start forming complete sentences and using Spanish creatively.
El Castillo – Castle
Perfect for princesses, dragons, or knights.
Ejemplo: El castillo tiene torres altas. — “The castle has tall towers.”
El Monstruo – Monster
A fun, silly word for imagination play.
Ejemplo: El monstruo no da miedo, solo baila. — “The monster isn’t scary, he just dances.”
El Tesoro – Treasure
Useful for pirate adventures.
Ejemplo: Buscamos el tesoro en el jardín. — “We look for the treasure in the garden.”
La Varita – Magic wand
A must-have for any fairy or magician.
Ejemplo: La varita hace magia brillante. — “The wand makes bright magic.”
El Héroe / La Heroína – Hero / Heroine
Encourages empowerment and storytelling.
Ejemplo: Soy una heroína valiente. — “I am a brave heroine.”
El Dragón – Dragon
Adds fantasy and excitement to playtime stories.
Ejemplo: El dragón duerme en el castillo. — “The dragon sleeps in the castle.”
El Disfraz – Costume
Used for dressing up in pretend games.
Ejemplo: Mi disfraz de superhéroe es azul. — “My superhero costume is blue.”
These words help your child imagine, describe, and express feelings while playing—an important step toward real communication in Spanish.
Mini Activity: “El Juego de las Palabras” (The Word Game)
Make learning these words part of your routine! Gather five toys and call out their names in Spanish. Your child races to touch the correct toy. Then, switch roles—they say the words, and you find them! Add a twist by using action verbs: “Salta y atrapa el balón” (Jump and catch the ball). This fun, low-pressure game strengthens listening, recall, and pronunciation.
Spanish Playtime Vocabulary: Every Playtime Is a Chance to Learn
Your preschooler learns best through joy and imagination. With these Spanish playtime vocabulary words, you can turn ordinary moments into meaningful language experiences. Each game, toy, and giggle becomes a mini Spanish lesson—one that builds confidence and connection between you and your child.
With Homeschool Spanish Academy, you can keep that excitement growing. Our classes are 100% online, taught by native Spanish-speaking teachers, and follow an engaging, play-based curriculum perfect for young learners. Enjoy flexible scheduling and choose between 1-on-1 or 2-on-1 sessions designed for your family’s rhythm.
Make Spanish fun, natural, and part of every day. Book your free trial class today and watch your child’s language skills—and confidence—grow with every game.
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“It’s great being able to interact with native speaking people and having a conversation with them not just doing all the work on paper. It’s also an amazing opportunity to speak with native Spanish-speaking people without having to travel to a native Spanish-speaking country.”
– Melanie
“Getting to know wonderful teachers who care about me and my growth in language and education. Evelyn Gomez and Erick Cacao are two of the most extraordinary people I have ever met, and talking with them in Spanish at the beginning of classes is always so fulfilling and greatly contributes to my happiness, joy, and wellbeing.”
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“I love that my children have the opportunity to speak with a live person. They get to practice Spanish in a 1-1 setting while improve their speaking, writing and reading skills during their lessons. HSA is a great way to learn Spanish for all ages! My children are 6, 9 and 11. My oldest two (9 and 11) have been taking classes with HSA for almost 2 years now. They love seeing their teacher each week. They understand the importance of learning several languages. I’ve seen them grow and learn with HSA. I’m excited to see how they will improve the more classes they take. I highly recommend them. You can’t bet learning and speaking with a live teacher. I’ve tried other programs. It’s just not as motivating.”
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