Spanish Vocabulary for the Summer and Winter Olympics
Are you ready to learn some Spanish sports vocabulary to enjoy this year’s Summer Olympics?
After almost a year-long wait, the world is finally ready to watch the best of the best. Athletes from all over the world will gather in Japan to push the limits of the human body—representatives from over two hundred regions will compete for the gold in several disciplines.
The Summer Olympics are usually larger and more recognized than their sister event, the Winter Olympics. This is partly because not everyone gets the chance to play winter sports, and summer is a common season regardless of where you live.
The Summer Olympics have many Spanish-speaking representatives! Assuming all Spanish-speaking countries participate in the Olympics, there are about 20 Spanish Olympic teams.
That’s around 10% of all participating countries.
If you’re rooting for any of these Spanish-speaking countries, this list of Spanish sports vocabulary words will come in handy.
Get ready to celebrate your favorite Spanish-speaking Olympic champions!
Winter Olympics
Winter sports events aren’t as uncommon as you might think. The first Nordic Games, a predecessor to the Winter Olympics, started in the early 1900s—a few years after the first modern Olympics in Athens. Skiing, skating, and snowboarding are just a few of the sports you’ll see during this event.
My only question is, when will they add professional snowball fights to the winter olympics?
I’d be the first one in line to watch that event!
Winter Spanish Sports Vocabulary
In this section we cover vocabulary related to Winter Olympic Sports in Spanish. All of these sports are present in the Winter Olympics!
Warm clothes and sports goggles are common gear among these athletes.
Which one is your favorite?
Winter Olympic Events
| English | Spanish |
| alpine skiing | el esquí alpino |
| biathlon | el biatlón |
| bobsleigh | el bobsleigh |
| cross-country | el esquí de fondo |
| curling | el curling |
| figure skating | el patinaje artístico |
| freestyle skiing | el esquí acrobático |
| ice hockey | el hockey sobre hielo |
| luge | el luge |
| nordic combined | la combinada nórdica |
| short track speed skating | el patinaje de velocidad en pista corta |
| skeleton | el skeleton |
| ski jumping | el salto de esquí |
| snowboard | el snowboard |
| speed skating | el patinaje de velocidad |
Example Spanish Sentences
El curling parece un deporte tranquilo, pero tiene momentos muy tensos.
Curling looks like a laid-back sport, but it has its tense moments.
El bobsleigh me recuerda a aquella película de los años noventa.
Bobsleigh reminds me of that movie from the 90s.
¡No me imagino lo que se siente ir tan rápido en el patinaje de velocidad en pista corta!
I can’t imagine how it must feel to go that fast on skates in short track speed skating!
De todos los juegos de invierno, mi favorito es el salto de esquí. Parece que vuelan por los aires.
Of all the winter games, my favorite is ski jumping. It looks as if they’re soaring through the skies.
Últimamente el hockey sobre hielo se ha vuelto más popular en Latinoamérica.
Lately, ice hockey has become more popular in Latin America.
Summer Olympics
The Summer Olympics are the modern rendition of the ancient Greek tradition. Nowadays, there are many more sports included in the roster.
This is one of the biggest worldwide sporting events there is, topped only by the Soccer World Cup.
The Olympics were cancelled when the world faced difficult times in the 1940s, so 2020 is not the first time the world skipped a year because of a global crisis.
There is an important difference, though!
This time, we’re all working together to solve a common problem. This gives the 2021 Olympics a whole different perspective—a celebration of all that we’ve accomplished over the last year.
Summer Spanish Sports Vocabulary
In this section I will offer you vocabulary related to Summer Olympic Sports in Spanish.
Summer Olympic Events With Balls, Sticks, and Rackets
| English | Spanish |
| 3X3 basketball | el baloncesto 3X3 |
| badminton | el bádminton |
| baseball softball | el béisbol sóftbol |
| basketball | el baloncesto |
| beach volleyball | el voleibol playa |
| football | el fútbol |
| golf | el golf |
| handball | el balonmano |
| hockey | el hockey |
| rugby sevens | el rugby 7 |
| table tennis | el tenis de mesa |
| tennis | el tenis |
| volleyball | el voleibol |
| archery | el tiro con arco |
Miscellaneous Summer Olympic Events
| English | Spanish |
| wrestling | la lucha |
| BMX freestyle | el ciclismo BMX freestyle |
| BMX racing | el ciclismo BMX racing |
| boxing | el boxeo |
| equestrian | ecuestre |
| fencing | la esgrima |
| judo | el judo |
| karate | el karate |
| shooting | el tiro |
| mountain bike | el ciclismo de montaña |
| road cycling | el ciclismo de ruta |
| skateboarding | el skateboarding |
| sport climbing | la escalada deportiva |
| taekwondo | el taekwondo |
| track cycling | el ciclismo de ruta |
Summer Olympic Gymnastics and Athletics Events
| English | Spanish |
| artistic gymnastics | la gimnasia artística |
| rhythmic gymnastics | la gimnasia rítmica |
| athletics | el atletismo |
| modern pentathlon | el pentatlón moderno |
| trampoline | la gimnasia en trampolín |
| triathlon | el triatlón |
| weightlifting | la halterofilia, el levantamiento de pesas |
Summer Olympic Water Events
| English | Spanish |
| artistic swimming | la natación artística |
| canoe / kayak flatwater | el remo |
| canoe / kayak slalom | el piragüismo en eslalon |
| diving | los saltos |
| marathon swimming | la natación en aguas abiertas |
| rowing | el remo |
| sailing | la vela |
| surfing | el surf |
| swimming | la natación |
| waterpolo | el waterpolo |
Example Spanish Sentences
El guatemalteco Erick Barrondo ganó la medalla de plata en el evento de marcha olímpica en las Olimpiadas del 2012.
Guatemalan Erick Barrondo won the silver medal in the Olympic race walking event of 2012.
¿Quién crees que ganará el oro en el pentatlón este año?
Who do you think will win this year’s pentathlon gold?
Mi compañera de clase entrenó muy duro en triatlón para clasificarse para las Olimpiadas de este año.
My classmate trained really hard to qualify for the triathlon event at this year’s Olympics.
Yo solía hacer ciclismo de montaña, pero no se compara con los profesionales de las Olimpiadas.
I used to do mountain biking, but I can’t compare myself to the professionals at the Olympics.
El tenis de mesa es rápido e intenso. ¡No hay que juzgarlo por su tamaño!
Table tennis is fast and intense, you shouldn’t judge it by its size!
Learn More Spanish Sports Vocabulary
Now you have all the Spanish sports vocabulary you need to enjoy this year’s Summer Olympics!
Being able to hold an event this meaningful in 2021 is a statement of how much we’ve adapted and learned to handle difficult situations as a whole.
Do you want to learn more about your favorite Spanish Olympic team?
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