My Sisters are Interested in Baseball in Spanish
My sisters have recently developed a keen interest in baseball, but there’s a twist – they want to learn about it in Spanish! As someone who loves both baseball and languages, I was excited to embark on this unique learning journey with them. In this article, I’ll share what we’ve learned so far and the strategies we’ve used to immerse ourselves in the world of baseball en español.
One of the first challenges we encountered was understanding the specialised vocabulary used in baseball. From “pitcher” to “home run,” there are numerous terms that are essential for comprehending the game. We started by creating a list of these key words and phrases, focusing on their Spanish equivalents. By using online resources, watching Spanish-language broadcasts, and consulting bilingual friends, we were able to build a solid foundation of baseball terminology in Spanish.
Another aspect we delved into was familiarising ourselves with Spanish-speaking teams and players. We discovered that many Major League Baseball games are broadcasted in both English and Spanish, providing us with an opportunity to listen to commentary in our target language. This not only helped us improve our comprehension skills but also introduced us to new teams and players within the Hispanic community.
Overall, our journey into exploring baseball in Spanish has been both educational and exciting. From expanding our language abilities to gaining insights into different cultures through sports, it has been a rewarding experience for all of us. Stay tuned as we continue this linguistic adventure and uncover more fascinating aspects of “El Béisbol” en español!
The Basics of Baseball in Spanish
When it comes to my sisters’ interest in baseball, we’ve embarked on a journey to learn more about the sport, including its terminology in Spanish. Here’s what we’ve discovered so far:
- Key Baseball Terms:
- Béisbol: The Spanish word for baseball.
- Jugador: Player.
- Equipo: Team.
- Juego: Game.
- Campo: Field.
- Lanzador: Pitcher.
- Bateador: Batter.
- Scoring and Positions: In baseball, scoring and positions play a vital role. Here are some essential terms related to these aspects:
- Carrera: Run (when a player reaches home plate).
- Anotación/Carreras anotadas: Score/Runs scored.
- Ponche/Strikeout: Strikeout (when a batter fails to hit the ball three times).
- Base(s): Base(s).
- Primera base: First base.
- Segunda base: Second base.
- Tercera base: Third base.
- Home plate / Casa/tapo/jom/tapo de casa/casa-platea/pozo/foso/monte-campo/plato-pozo/bandeja-platón-central/la caja-cajita del bateo/home/base/comida-plato/plato-jom/sellos-pozuelo-comida-tablero-mesa-torre/tablero-de-postres-domicilio-tierra-final/domicilio-sistema-base-plato/tablero-estado/base central/a la mesa-comedor-base de postre-placa-campo-hogar/hogar-de-las carreras-platforma/hogar-base/goma/alimento-del hogar/tablero/primer tablero-plato final/tierra final/ruta hacia el plató-ruta al plató-plataforma).
- Game Phrases: To understand the flow of a baseball game in Spanish, it’s helpful to know some common phrases:
- ¡Play ball!/¡A jugar!: The phrase used to start the game.
- Bola/Bola mala: Ball (a pitch outside of the strike zone).
- Golpeado/Boleto/Base por bolas: Hit by pitch/Walk/Base on balls (when a batter is awarded first base after being hit by a pitch or receiving four balls).
- Doble-play/Doble matanza: Double play (when two outs are made in one play).
- Baseball Celebrations: Baseball is known for its celebratory moments, and here are a few expressions related to those joyful occasions:
- ¡Home run! / ¡Jonrón!: Home run! (when the batter hits the ball out of the field).
- ¡Victoria!/Ganamos: Victory!/We won.
- Felicidades/Congratulations.
By familiarising ourselves with these basic terms and phrases, my sisters and I have been able to delve deeper into our passion for baseball in Spanish. We’re continuously learning more about this fascinating sport and its linguistic nuances. Stay tuned for further updates on our journey!
- “Béisbol” – This is the Spanish word for baseball itself. It’s essential to know this term as it forms the foundation of any conversation about the sport.
- “Jugador” – In English, we say “player,” but in Spanish, it becomes “jugador.” Whether you’re referring to your favorite player or discussing different positions on the field, this word will come up frequently.
- “Equipo” – Just like in English, “equipo” means “team.” It’s crucial to understand this term when talking about different teams in baseball, whether at a professional level or during friendly matches.
- “Lanzador” – In baseball terminology, a pitcher is known as a “lanzador.” This word refers specifically to the player who throws the ball from the mound towards home plate.
- “Bateador” – The batter in baseball is referred to as a “bateador” in Spanish. Whenever someone steps up to bat, they become the bateador for their team.
- “Carreras” – Carreras translates to runs or scores in English. It represents how many times a team crosses home plate during a game.
- “Entradas” – In English, we call them innings; however, in Spanish, they are called entradas. Each game consists of nine entradas where both teams take turns batting and playing defense.
- “Base” – Just like its English counterpart, “base” refers to first base (primera base), second base (segunda base), third base (tercera base), and home plate (home). These bases mark the key points on the field that runners must touch to score a run.
- “Árbitro” – The umpire, responsible for making calls and enforcing the rules of the game, is known as an “árbitro” in Spanish. They play a crucial role in ensuring fair play during the match.
- “Bola” – Finally, “bola” means ball in Spanish. Whether it’s a fastball, curveball, or changeup, understanding this term is fundamental when discussing different pitches.
