la raqueta
La raqueta means a racket used in sports like tennis or padel. It is the piece of equipment you hold to hit the ball.
Common Phrases
- agarrar la raqueta — to grab the racket
- cambiar la raqueta — to switch rackets
Example
Mi raqueta nueva pesa muy poco.
My new racket weighs very little.
Common Mistake
Mixing gender: say la raqueta, not el raqueta.
el casco
El casco means a helmet, especially for biking or skating. It is used for protection and safety.
Common Phrases
- ponerse el casco — to put on the helmet
- llevar casco — to wear a helmet
Example
Ponte el casco antes de subir a la bici.
Put on the helmet before getting on the bike.
Common Mistake
Dropping the article in a normal sentence: Ponte el casco is more natural than Ponte casco.
la pista
La pista means a track (running track) or a sports surface, depending on the venue. In a community sports center, it often refers to the running track or a designated lane area.
Common Phrases
- la pista de atletismo — the running track
- la pista está mojada — the track is wet
Example
La pista está mojada, así que caminamos despacio.
The track is wet, so we walk slowly.
Common Mistake
Missing accents in common words: está and así are often written as esta and asi.
ágil
Ágil means agile: quick, light, and able to move easily. It is common in sports to describe defenders or footwork.
Common Phrases
- ser ágil — to be agile
- más ágil en defensa — more agile on defense
Example
Con práctica, te vuelves más ágil en defensa.
With practice, you become more agile on defense.
Common Mistake
Spelling without the accent: write ágil, not agil.
la cancha
La cancha means the court or playing field (basketball court, soccer field, etc.). In many places, it is the everyday word for where you play.
Common Phrases
- reservar la cancha — to book the court
- entrar a la cancha — to step onto the court
Example
La cancha se llena los sábados por la tarde.
The court fills up on Saturday afternoons.
Common Mistake
Using the wrong word for a tennis court: in many contexts la cancha is fine, but la pista may be used for tennis; avoid assuming la pista always means a running track.
el árbitro
El árbitro means the referee, the person who enforces the rules. You will hear it in games when play is stopped or a call is made.
Common Phrases
- hablar con el árbitro — to talk to the referee
- el árbitro detuvo el juego — the referee stopped the game
Example
El árbitro detuvo el juego por un minuto.
The referee stopped the game for a minute.
Common Mistake
Missing the accent and swapping vowels: write árbitro, not arbitro or árbitra unless you mean a female referee.
el salto
El salto means a jump, either the action or the jump itself. It is useful in sports like basketball, volleyball, and gymnastics.
Common Phrases
- dar un salto — to take a jump
- un salto alto — a high jump
Example
Su salto fue alto y muy seguro.
His jump was high and very safe.
Common Mistake
Confusing the verb and the noun: el salto is the noun, while saltar is the verb; avoid mi saltar.
el trote
El trote means a jog or a light run at an easy pace. It is softer than a sprint and common in warm-ups.
Common Phrases
- trote suave — an easy jog
- salir a trotar — to go for a jog
Example
Hago trote suave por veinte minutos cada mañana.
I do an easy jog for twenty minutes every morning.
Common Mistake
Adding an unnecessary article: Hago trote is natural; Hago el trote usually sounds odd unless you mean a specific planned jog.